Great low density snow may be covering Wind Slabs near ridge crests. Danger will be MODERATE in any Treeline areas that received wind - pay attention for stiff or dense feeling snow. Below Treeline, Beware hidden stumps and rocks!
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Sunny, high of -17 at Treeline, Light - Moderate North-Westerly winds.Wednesday: Sunny, High of -13 at Treeline, Light Westerly winds.Thursday: Incoming Upslope weather system. Watch for dropping temperatures, rising winds from the North-East, and Light - Moderate snowfall.
Snowpack Summary
27cm of new snow fell between Friday and Monday. In Eastern areas, this was redistributed by Moderate Westerly winds. Western areas appear to have experienced less wind; but some wind slabs may have formed in immediate lees and wind exposed features.
Avalanche Summary
A road patrol on Monday revealed numerous Small (Size 1 - 1.5) Loose Dry avalanches on all aspects; these were most widespread in the alpine. One Small (Size 1) Wind Slab avalanche was observed at 2400m on an Eastern aspect, immediately lee to ridgetop.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
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.
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.