If the sun shines today, expect point release avalanches within the new snow on steep, rocky terrain features.Pockets of wind slab exists in the alpine and expect the sluffing to be fast and travel far.Good snow quality exists at tree line and above.
Weather Forecast
A mixed bag of cloud, periods of sun and a chance of isolated flurries today. The alpine with reach -10 with light ridgetop winds from the West. Freezing level will hovering around 1000m. Snow and increasing winds arriving Monday and lasting through Tuesday with 10-20cm of snow forecasted.
Snowpack Summary
Another 12cm brings the storm snow total to ~30cm which now covers surface facets and sun crusts. The West end of the Park saw twice as much snow yesterday as the East side. Moderate southerly winds have deposited pockets of wind slab along ridge lines and cross loaded features. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Avalanche Summary
Yesterday saw numerous slab avalanches from the MacDonald Gullies (2, 3, 6, 9 and 12) up to sz 2.5. Expect to find pockets of newly formed wind slab in the alpine and exposed tree line areas. No reports from the backcountry other than fast sluffing in steep terrain.
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.