Some of this snow will melt away, leaving a second thin layer of ice particles on top of the
bed layer. It might take several weeks before another heavy snowfall. The danger
comes when the third layer of snow falls. If it is made of light, loose or fluffy
snow (not heavy wet snow), the danger starts. This third layer is called the “weak
or slab layer.” A weak layer of snow lying on top of ice and bed layers means that
an avalanche is more likely to occur