A good time to avoid avalanche terrain. With more snow and wind in the forecast the touchy conditions will continue to deteriorate as the potential size of natural avalanches increase.
Weather Forecast
Snowfall is forecast to continue overnight Monday. Gusty SW/W winds will also continue with freezing levels near valley bottom. There should be a lull before the next system hits late Tuesday with 10-15cm and another 10 cm inbound for Thursday morning. Generally, rapid loading will continue and natural activity should be expected.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 80 cm now buries a significant weak layer found on all aspects and elevations. Gusty West winds and mild temperatures have contributed to widespread slab formation especially in open areas. More loading and wind will increase the serious nature of these surface storm slabs. Weak snow at the base of the snowpack also remains a concern.
Avalanche Summary
A skier was caught and buried in an avalanche Saturday that the party triggered while descending Rowe Peak at around 2300m on NE-E aspect. Widespread natural activity is occurring with the continued rapid loading due to strong winds and snow. Long propagations and the potential for remote triggering have created dangerous conditions for travelers
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.