Freezing levels will be important and determine whether this incoming precipitation arrives as rain or snow.
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
On Wednesday a pulse of Pacific moisture will move through the region bringing a possible 10 to 15cm of snow at higher elevations. Ridge top winds are forecast to be moderate and southwesterly with Wednesday's system, then switching to South on Thursday and Friday. Freezing levels should drop to about 1600m for Wednesday and Thursday, then rising to 3000m on Friday.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported. Forecast sunny skies may increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches on solar aspects, as well as cornice failures.
Snowpack Summary
Snow surfaces can best be described as variable. Melt-freeze conditions can be found on solar aspects in the alpine, and on all aspects at lower elevations. On high north-facing terrain, you may find stubborn old wind slabs and surface facets. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. However, be aware that cornices may become weak with daytime warming.
Problems
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.