Rugged access conditions eventually give way to real winter for those intent on finding dry alpine snow. Be ready to manage wind slabs that may be poorly bonded to the crust when you arrive.
A variable 5-25 cm of recent snow has been heavily redistributed by strong south winds in the alpine. Make observations of new snow depth and reactivity to determine the extent of wind slab problems on the local scale.
With the wet avalanche cycle from the early part of the week finished, focus has shifted to the amount and reactivity of snow that accumulated in the alpine through the midweek. Wind slabs formed with this new snow are our only real avalanche concerns over the near term.
A variable 5-25 cm of wind-redistributed recent snow can be found in the alpine in the region, with amounts tapering rapidly at treeline.
New snow that hasn't already blown away overlies a crust that is becoming thicker and more supportive by the day. In most places this crust is on the surface, gradually forming a frozen lid over the the rain-soaked upper 30-60 cm of the snowpack.
The mid and lower snowpack consists of variable layers of crusts and faceted snow, all diminishing in relevance as the surface crust strengthens.
Overall the snowpack remains unusually shallow.
Saturday night
Decreasing cloud. Northeast alpine winds, 5 - 15 km/h, increasing.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Northeast alpine wind 5 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C with freezing level around 900 m.
Monday
Cloudy with isolated flurries. Less than 5 cm accumulating over the past 3 days. East or northeast alpine winds 10 - 15 km/h, easing. Treeline temperature -4 °C with freezing level around 1000 m.
Tuesday
Mainly sunny. Southwest alpine winds 5 - 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C with freezing level around 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
