Watch for lingering wind slabs in high north facing terrain and wet sluffing on steep sun exposed slopes.
Weather Forecast
A mix of sun and cloud is expected on Tuesday with possibility of isolated flurries. Alpine wind is expected to be light and afternoon freezing levels are forecast to reach around 1000 m. Similar conditions are expected for Wednesday and Thursday with a mix of sun and cloud, light alpine wind, and treeline temperatures around -10C.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, avalanche activity was limited to ski cutting producing a few size 1 soft slabs which were 10-15 cm thick and isolated to the most recent storm snow. On Saturday, explosives released two large cornices which did not trigger slabs on the slopes below. On Tuesday, lingering wind slabs are the main concern. Look for these in immediately leeward features on northerly aspects in exposed terrain. Sluffing from steep sun exposed slopes is also possible during the heat of the afternoon.
Snowpack Summary
15-20 cm of new snow accumulated Sunday overnight. At higher elevations, the widespread mid-February melt-freeze crust is now typically down 30-60 cm. This crust extends as high as 2200 m and is up to 15 cm thick at treeline. The recent storm snow is reported to be bonding well to the crust. In the alpine, wind slabs and cornices were recently being reported on northerly aspects. Below around 1900 m, the crust is at or near the surface of the snowpack and is reported to be supportive to the weight of skier.
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 Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.