Watch for winslabs developing in open lee areas and near ridgecrests.
Weather Forecast
Up to 15 cm has been modeled for the system passing over tuesday night. Accompanying winds will create windslabs.
Snowpack Summary
Some wind and fresh snow will create new windslabs near ridge crests and in open lee areas. Dry snow is still found on high north aspects. Many areas exhibit a cohesive midpack over the basal facets, while other thin areas have weak facets to the ground.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.
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.