Lots of variation in snowpack depths throughout the forecast region. Some areas are weak with punchy facets to ground...ugh. Good skiing in sheltered areas below treeline. Question is, can you find it. MM/MK
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday
Weather Forecast
New snow is expected to reach the forecast region beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing overnight on saturday. Amounts are likely to be between 10-15cm and winds are expected to be strong out of the NW so slab development will be ongoing throughout the storm. Temps are becomming more "Winter like"
Avalanche Summary
No new Obs
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow continues to settle under the influence of mild temps. Strong SW flow continues and as a result, storm slabs up to 30cm thick continue to build in Alpine terrain and in isolated areas at TL. Lower elevation terrain is weak and facetted and overall in Alpine areas, a high amount of variability exists in the current snowpack with some areas only 30-40cm deep and others over 2m. Lots of full depth facetting on Mt Engadine burn on Friday.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.