Avalanche danger will increase with the incoming storm on Sunday night.
Confidence
Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Snow starting in the late afternoon, moderate to strong southeast winds, freezing level dropping to 600 m. MONDAY: 20 cms of new snow by the morning, with an additional 20cms forecast by the end of the day. Moderate southwest winds, freezing level around 600 m. TUESDAY: Sunny with light northeast winds. Freezing level dropping to sea level. Treeline temperatures around -3. WEDESDAY: Sunny with light northerly winds. Freezing level at sea level. Treeline temperatures around -5.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported.
Snowpack Summary
New snow (up to 40cms in 24 hours) is expected to arrive starting late Sunday afternoon and will bury the 15 cm of settling snow from Friday's storm. Sustained southerly winds are building small wind slabs on north-facing slopes in the lee of exposed features. Friday's snow buried a variable interface composed of faceted (sugary) snow and old hard wind slabs (especially at higher elevations). Recent reports suggest the snow has bonded fairly well to this interface; however, it remains a concern as a sliding layer during the next storm. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and stable.
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.