The effect of sunshine could cause a spike in avalanche danger on Tuesday.
Confidence
Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday
Weather Forecast
Monday night: Light snow. Strong W winds. Alpine temperature near -16.Tuesday: No snow. Sunshine. Moderate to strong W winds. Alpine temperature near -10.Wednesday: Moderate snow. Strong to extreme SW winds. Alpine temperature near -4.Thursday: Moderate to heavy snow. Light to moderate SW winds. Alpine temperature near -8.
Avalanche Summary
Observations were limited during Sunday's storm, but large avalanches were heard running in steep terrain. Skiers also triggered small soft slabs which failed on the buried crust.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 50 cm snow overlies a crust, which is supportive to at least 2100 m in most areas. Ridge top winds have been from SW and NW directions, creating pockets of wind slab on a variety of lee and cross-loaded slopes. Deeper in the snowpack, a series of crust layers (or isolated surface hoar) makes up the upper snowpack. The mid-pack is reported to be generally well-settled. Cornices are large and fragile in some areas.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.
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.