The return to winter continues. Watch for reverse wind loading due to persistent NE winds. Storm slabs are a concern on all aspects in the alpine except West.
Weather Forecast
Continued light flurries for next couple of days with accumulations near 5cm for Monday. Winds will be moderate to strong from the NE and temperatures will remain cool.
Avalanche Summary
Sluffing continues in steep terrain, but most avalanches observed today were quite small.
Snowpack Summary
New snow amounts were variable due to the convective nature of the flurries, but average amounts were near 5cm at treeline with storm snow totals near 30cm. Storm slab up to 60cm thick are present in lee and cross-loaded terrain in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline. Isolated thin storm slabs are also found on S aspects due to recent winds. Previously formed crusts are now buried from 5 to 40cm depending on elevation.
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.
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.