A steady stream of light precipitation should fall as snow at upper elevations and begin to accumulate in the coming days.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulations 5-10cm / moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -3 MONDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -3
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity on Saturday was reported as thin windslabs in alpine lees to size 1 that were reactive to skier traffic.
Snowpack Summary
Rain Friday reportedly soaked the upper 15 to 20 cm of the snowpack and left all aspects with moist snow on the surface from valley bottom to at least 2000m, maybe even ridgetop. As temperatures began to cool Friday night into Saturday a thin crust formed. The crust is now buried by new snow above 1600m approximately. This new snow has been redistributed by southeast through southwest winds.Up to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity and is likely trending towards dormancy. Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
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.