Conditions have changed in the last few days. New winds slabs have increased the Avalanche Danger.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday
Weather Forecast
Another pacific frontal system will bring up to 10cm of snow to the Coast on Monday. Lingering flurries are expected on Tuesday before a dry ridge of high pressure develops for Wednesday. Ridgetop winds are forecast to be moderate to strong from the southwest on Monday, and then decrease to light on Tuesday and Wednesday. Freezing levels should hover around 1000m for the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
At the time of publishing this bulletin, no new avalanches had been reported. That said, I'm sure there was a good round of wind slab activity in response to Sunday's weather. With more snow on the way, I expect continued wind slab activity in lee terrain at treeline and above.
Snowpack Summary
Moderate amounts of new snow overlie a hard rain crust that exists up to at least 2100m. The new accumulations have been shifted by strong southwest winds into new wind slabs which may be especially reactive due to the underlying crust.Deeper snowpack weaknesses have become unreactive on account of the strong capping crust layer.
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.