Carefully evaluate steep slopes - this is where you'll trigger an avalanche after the storm, particularly in wind-affected terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
Friday: Flurries. Freezing level around 1500 m. Winds 10-20 km/h from the southwest. Saturday: Flurries, clearing in the afternoon. Freezing level around 1500 m. Winds mostly calm. Sunday: Dry, with sunshine, especially in the morning. Freezing level rising to 1900 m. Light winds.
Avalanche Summary
Natural and skier-triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported during the storm on northerly aspects above 1800 m.
Snowpack Summary
15-25 cm of new snow with moderate to strong winds from a variety of directions have created fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain at treeline and above. Numerous crusts exist in the upper snowpack, especially on solar aspects. Cornices are large and remain a concern: Saturday's fatal accident near Lions Bay illustrates the danger of them breaking off, and the large avalanches they can trigger. Expect small loose dry avalanches in steep terrain where the new snow is sitting on a crust.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.