Watch for periods of strong sun today. Thin cloud should reduce solar inputs, but if it gets clear solar triggered avalanches are possible. The sun may also cause cornices to fail and trigger deeper slabs.
Weather Forecast
Expect thin broken cloud, light winds and a chance of flurries today. Cool temps (-10 in the alpine) and the thin clouds should help to reduce solar effects, but periods of strong solar are possible. Late tuesday/early wed a low pressure system will bring light precip before another ridge forms bringing clear and dry conditions.
Snowpack Summary
20cm of dry snow has refreshed the surface, and cool temps are tightening the snowpack. 60cm of heavy, moist snow from the weekend appears to be bonding. The Feb 12 surface hoar/crust layer, down ~1m, has been reactive to large loads (see below). In the alpine, S'ly winds are transporting snow rapidly loading slopes and forming new windslabs.
Avalanche Summary
A large avalanche cycle occurred over the weekend. Most avalanche paths along the highway (and likely the backcountry) ran, with size 2-3.5 avalanches running into fans. These were failing on the storm interface and Feb 12 layer. None appear to have stepped down to deeper layers. Several large cornice failures, size 2-2.5, were observed yesterday.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.
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.