Careful with slopes that have been wind-loaded and slopes getting hit by the sun.
Confidence
Moderate - Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear, moderate northeast wind, alpine temperatures drop to -14 C.MONDAY: Sunny, moderate northeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -12 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, moderate northeast wind, alpine high temperatures around -15 C.WEDNESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, strong east wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
Preliminary reports from Sunday indicate small (size 1) wind slabs were triggered by riders on all aspects in alpine terrain. Activity on Saturday was limited to loose dry sluffing in steep terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Recent wind has formed isolated pockets of slabs in exposed terrain, while sheltered areas have cold low density snow. The top 20 to 40 cm of the snowpack consists of low density snow that is gradually settling onto old hard surfaces including crusts and wind-packed snow. Low-density snow may sluff easily on these hard surfaces. The lower snowpack is strong and settled.
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.