Watch new snow amounts carefully. If more than 30 cm new snow falls overnight by Friday morning, consider the danger to be HIGH.
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Friday
Weather Forecast
Friday: Approximately 25 cm new snow with freezing levels around 1000 m. Strong southwesterly winds.Saturday: Approximately 10 cm new snow with freezing levels around 900 m. Moderate southerly winds.Sunday: Dry with some sunny breaks. Light northwesterly winds.
Avalanche Summary
Expect human triggered and natural avalanches to occur in steep, wind-affected terrain at higher elevations.
Snowpack Summary
40-60 cm of new snow now overlies a crust at treeline elevations. Indications are the new snow has generally bonded well at elevations below 1500 m. Higher up things are uncertain - we basically have no reports. Travel in many places is rugged, with many open creeks, alder and other early season hazards, although things should be improving with recent new snow. Expect snow depths of around 20 cm at 800 m and around 140 cm at 1200 m.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.