Loose snow sluffing out of steep rocky alpine terrain will be a concern for ice climbers.
Weather Forecast
Increasing NW winds overnight with 3-6 cm of snow. Cool temperatures. Skies clear on Sunday with light NW winds dropping temperatures in to low -20's.
Snowpack Summary
New wind slab forming from reverse loading Northerly winds along cross-loaded gulley features. The interface between the strong mid-pack and weaker basal facets is most susceptible to human triggering from shallow rocky areas.
Avalanche Summary
Very thin loose snow avalanches observed on East and West alpine aspects from steep rocky terrain. Some very thin slab avalanches (Size 0.5) on reversed cross-loaded gulley features.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Sunday
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.