Avalanche hazard is decreasing, but wind slabs in the Alpine are still a concern. Also, keep in mind the weak basal layers that have recently produced a few large avalanches.
Weather Forecast
The cold snap continues. Another night of -30, followed by mostly sunny skies and temperatures near -17 for Tuesday. Winds will be light from the NW.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new today, but observations were limited. Over the weekend several wind slabs and deep persistent slabs were observed in Alpine areas with debris running into Treeline and Below Treeline elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Alpine areas are primarily wind effected with a mix of hard and soft wind slabs on all aspects. These tend to disappear as you descend into Treeline elevations. Overall the snowpack continues to facet, especially in shallow snowpack areas and at lower elevations. In valley bottoms the ski penetration is to ground unless you are traveling on an existing packed trail.
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.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.