A dusting of new snow has covered the most-recent surface crust. With more snow expected over the weekend, watch for how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind light from the west. Temperature -4. Freezing level 800 m.SUNDAY: Snow. Accumulation 10-15 cm. Ridge wind moderate from the southwest. Freezing level 1000 m.MONDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation up to 5 cm. Ridge wind light from the west. Freezing level 700 m.
Avalanche Summary
There have been no reports of avalanche activity since last weekend when a small, natural, wind slab avalanche was observed in the alpine on a wind-loaded, north-facing, ridge top feature on Saturday in the Metal Dome area.
Snowpack Summary
A light dusting of new snow now covers the melt-freeze crust that formed at all aspects and elevations. On north aspects this surface crust is thin with dry, sugary snow crystals (facets) below. Beneath the surface, the upper snowpack is well settled and overlies a thin layer of facets on the late-November rain crust. Recent snowpack tests from earlier this week have found hard, sudden compression test results on the facets just above the crust, which is now buried between approximately 60 cm at treeline elevations. Beneath this crust the lower snowpack is well settled and consists of several crusts that formed in the early season.
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.