Forecast light snow and wind may continue to build thin wind slabs in the alpine.
Weather Forecast
A weak low pressure system has been deflected by the ridge towards the interior ranges. Temperatures should remain cold with freezing levels at valley bottoms for the duration of the forecast. Cloudy with some flurries and light snow falls are expected on Monday night and Tuesday, accumulating 5-10 cm. Continued flurries on Wednesday and Thursday with a total of 3-5 cm expected. Wind should be light from the southeast for the duration of the forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Some isolated wind slab avalanches reported up to size 1.5
Snowpack Summary
The clear skies, solar radiation, and warm air trapped at higher elevations has settled the most recent storm snow. Southerly aspects have seen enough sun and warmth to release loose moist or wet avalanches in steep terrain. Melt-freeze crusts may be encountered on many intermediate aspects, especially those exposed to warm air and strong solar radiation. Winds continue to form slabs on a variety of alpine and tree line aspects. Surface hoar and surface facetting has been reported in sheltered locations. The snowpack is generally considered stable, but pockets of steep terrain have been sluffing up to size 2 on solar aspects, and also in some steep northern exposures.
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.