Watch for windslabs as you enter open areas near treeline and above. Ice climbers may find windslabs developing at lower elevations when the Yoho Blow pushes through. Dress warm.
Weather Forecast
A little more snow tomorrow and then the Yoho Blow should push in. It can be brutishly cold and windy at lower elevations for a while.
Snowpack Summary
10-30 cm of soft snow now covers the Dec 15 persistent weak layer of surface hoar, sun crust or facets (depending on location). An additional 5-10 cm of snow winds are expected overnight Tuesday and may create windslabs at lower elevations..
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches noted.
Confidence
Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.