Heavy snowfall and/or rain are forecast for Monday with freezing levels as high as 2300m. If these weather conditions occur, avalanche hazard will rise rapidly through the day. Pay attention to localized conditions.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
A warm storm is expected on Monday bringing 25 to 30cm over a short period of time with freezing levels starting at 2300m in the morning and dropping through the day. Precipitation could fall in the form of rain. Winds are likely to be moderate from the NE.
Avalanche Summary
One size 1.5 solar triggered slab from a steep SE aspect below treeline. Minor pin-wheeling observed on steep solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Surface hoar growth overnight up to 10mm on sheltered aspects. Storm snow is settling. February surface hoar is buried 130cm at treeline and is still reactive to stability tests in the hard range. Midpack is well consolidated.
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.
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.