Watch for lingering wind slabs in high north facing terrain. Extra caution is needed around all steep sun exposed slopes as well any slopes exposed to large cornices.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Mostly sunny conditions are expected on Monday with light alpine wind from the north. Freezing levels are forecast to drop to around 700 m Sunday overnight and reach around 1300 m on Monday afternoon. Increasing cloud cover is expected on Tuesday with light to moderate alpine wind from the south and freezing levels reaching around 1500 m in the afternoon. Light precipitation is forecast for Wednesday with strong alpine wind from the southwest and freezing levels reaching around 2000 m in the afternoon.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported but observations have been very limited. On Monday, solar triggered sluffing is possible on steep sun exposed slopes. Wind slabs may be reactive in high north facing terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Recent snowpack observations have been very limited and confidence is low. A widespread crust is now expected on all aspects and elevations except for north facing terrain in the alpine. Where dry snow still exists, recent strong southerly winds have likely formed wind slabs. At lower elevations, recent rain has likely saturated the snowpack which is expected to have become isothermal below the surface crust.
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.