Triggering wind slab avalanches is possible in the alpine. Gather information as you approach avalanche terrain, there is uncertainty how well the recent storm snow bonds with the underlying layers.
Wind slabs created during the recent storm with southwest winds might still be triggered by humans. A change of the wind direction to wind from the north might create fresh wind slab pockets in lee terrain features.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Isolated flurries, then clear, 40 km/h wind from the north, alpine temperatures around -4 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
SUNDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, 40 km/h wind from the north, alpine high temperatures around -2 C, freezing level around 1000 m.
MONDAY: Mainly sunny, light wind from the northwest, alpine high temperatures around +2 C, freezing level around 1500 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, 40 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C, freezing level around 1000 m.
Minimal avalanche activity has been reported over the past week. Some parts of the region may have received enough new snow with the recent storm to form slabs at higher elevations. The greatest concern is in wind affected terrain and where the storm snow sits on smooth surfaces (such as glaciers, rock slabs, and areas that already have enough snow to cover rocks and shrubs).
The recent storm snow totals to about 25 cm for most parts of the region. Snowpack depths remain quite thin throughout the region. Current snowpack depths are around 75 cm at upper treeline elevations, with many rocks and trees sticking out at lower elevations. In the alpine you can find slightly deeper areas where wind has formed hard wind slabs.
