Danger will increase throughout the week with new snow and strong winds in the forecast. Watch for fresh wind slabs at higher elevations.
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries starting in the afternoon, moderate west winds with strong gusts, alpine temperatures around -12 C.WEDNESDAY: Continued flurries with 5-15 cm of new snow, moderate west winds with strong gusts, alpine temperatures around -8 C.THURSDAY: Another 10 cm of new snow, strong southwest winds, alpine temperatures around -6 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, small avalanches in the new snow were reported including natural and skier triggered size 1 wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Sluffing in steep terrain was widespread. A few size 2 natural avalanches were also reported in alpine terrain, potentially releasing on the mid-February interface 30-40 cm deep. Winds will pick up again on Tuesday and form fresh wind slabs.
Snowpack Summary
Recent flurries delivered 10-20 cm with some moderate winds forming thin wind slabs on a variety of aspects at higher elevations. The new snow has buried a sun crust and spotty surface hoar layer and will sluff easily in steep terrain. The the mid-February interface is now buried 30-50 cm deep, and is composed of a thick rain crust up to about 1800 m, sun crusts on steep solar aspects, and spotty surface hoar on shaded aspects. This layer could develop into a persistent slab problem once the snow above it settles into a stiffer slab. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and stable.
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.