Pockets of wind slab are most likely to be reactive in areas with high consequences
Weather Forecast
A weak ridge of high pressure will continue to block hope of significant snow. Today and Friday will be mainly cloudy with a few flurries, an alpine high of -8'C and light winds. Saturday looks like we might get some sunshine with freezing levels rising to 1600m, alpine temps to -2'C and strong SW winds.
Snowpack Summary
~40cm of snow from last weeks storm is settling and is generally bonding. In isolated areas it overlies surface hoar and may be reactive. Variable wind effect exists in the alpine, and steep S aspects have breakable suncrust. Recent snowpack tests generally indicate that the snowpack is stubborn to triggering, however it is weakest a low elevations
Avalanche Summary
Recent natural avalanche activity has been limited to steep unskiable terrain such as off Mt Macdonald. However, there have been size 2.5 avalanches observed from this type of terrain regularly with avalanches running onto fans. Sluffing when skiing/riding steep terrain has also been observed.
Confidence
Wind effect is extremely variable
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.