Forecast new snow and wind are expected to create fresh wind slabs reactive to human triggers.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: 5-10 cm new snow. Moderate to strong southeasterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level around 1300 m.FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Moderate westerly ridgetop winds. Freezing level rising to around 1800 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Strong southwesterly ridgetop winds. Freezing level rising to around 2000 m.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
Rising freezing levels have caused the recent 25 cm of storm snow to become moist up to ridge top elevations, with minimal overnight re-freeze. Below 1400 m, rain has soaked the snow surface.There are some reports of a surface hoar layer roughly 100 cm deep on north aspects at treeline, but no recent avalanche activity on this layer. Below this, the mid-pack is generally well settled and strong.A layer of sugary facets around a crust exists near the bottom of the snowpack, but this layer has been inactive for some time.
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.
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.