Lots of wind in the past 24 hours (including reverse wind loading) has formed wind slabs at upper elevations. Most weather models are not calling for much snow, but if the region gets more snow than expected, hazard levels could rise. Keep an eye on localized conditions.
Due to reverse wind loading wind slabs are now found on all aspects. These slabs will be sensitive to human triggering for at least the next couple of days.
This problem will be with us all season. At higher elevations there is more concern that these deep persistent weak layers could be human triggerable.
Observations were limited today, but small sluffs were observed in the Alpine in extreme terrain due to the on going strong winds.
Recent snow accumulations of up to 15cm is being re-distributed by strong and variable winds at ridgetop. Expect wind slabs averaging 30cm thick on virtually all aspects in the Alpine terrain, and these do extend down into Treeline elevations in some areas. The reactivity of these wind slabs depends on the previous surface they have formed on. In areas where a buried crust exists, or a layer of weak facets, these new wind slabs will be more touchy. At Treeline and below the early December rain crust remains supportive for the most part. Unfortunately the incoming cold snap may start to change that. Otherwise the basal facets and depth hoar remain unchanged.
Tuesday will be relatively seasonal and then its going to get ugly!
Tuesday will be overcast with scattered flurries and accumulations between 1 and 5cm (although some models say up to 15cm). Winds will be strong to extreme from the SW in the morning, and then decrease in the afternoon. Temperatures should reach -8C.
Then the deep freeze begins. Wednesday will see temps drop through the day into the -25 range, and then as cold as -38 on Thursday morning. Ugh.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
