Fragile new cornices hanging over wind slabs can surprise you; try to minimize exposure to this hazard. Don't underestimate the effects of the sun on the snowpack, even with the current cold temperatures.
Weather Forecast
Looks like it will be a beautiful day, although a cold Arctic air mass has moved in with alpine highs of -16C. Winds are forecast to be north 10km/h and no snow. Even with these cold temperatures, the sun will make it seam much warmer than it is and can affect the surface snow on steep solar aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Sustained strong winds have caused extensive wind effect in the alpine and exposed tree line areas. Conditions will be highly variable from wind scoured ridges, wind slabs, hard slabs and deep wind drifts. Any freshly wind loaded slopes are suspect for human triggering of slabs.
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle occurred in the highway corridor yesterday, initiated by strong south winds. Eight were size 2.5 wind slabs, one was a size 3.0 triggered by a cornice fall.
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.