The recent storm snow might still be triggered by humans. Once the sun is out expect loose wet avalanches on solar aspects.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Weather Forecast
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / accumulation of up to 5 cm / light westerly wind / freezing level 1300 mTUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with sunny periods / light to moderate northwest winds / alpine high temperature -3 C / freezing level 1900 mWEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / light westerly wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1800 mTHURSDAY: Cloudy with flurries / light northwest wind / alpine high temperature -6 C / freezing level 1600 m
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, there were reports of a natural storm slab size 2.5 on an east aspect in the alpine and several natural dry and moist loose avalanches up to size 2.5 on northerly aspects.On Sunday and Saturday, there were a few reports of natural and human triggered storm slab and wind slab avalanches up to size 2 at treeline and alpine elevations. There were also reports of several natural and human triggered loose wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on steep solar slopes and below treeline.On Friday, there were reports of a few natural and human triggered storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 2. These were mainly on north to east aspects in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
10-35 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in some areas. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline.North facing slopes above 2000 m may also have a layer of sugary faceted snow buried 50 to 70 cm.Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.