The question for tomorrow will be when and how strong the winds become in the afternoon. At treeline especially, watch the wind pattern and have alternate plans if the winds pick up early.
Confidence
Fair - Timing of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
As a significant system approaches, we can expect flurries and moderate to high winds along the divide. Accumulation for the next 24hrs is forecast to be minimal, but local amounts will vary. The winds will come out of the SW for the next 48hrs. Alpine winds will be in the strong to extreme range with sustained gusts to 75km/hr as of tomorrow afternoon. We are expecting an abrupt change(for the worse) in the weather early tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures will also rise as the day progresses. A high of -6 is expected.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new was seen today, but visibility was marginal.
Snowpack Summary
The surface hoar that had been developing over the last few days has now been buried by a fresh layer of snow. At the moment this surface hoar layer is only down 3-8 cm's and is somewhat unknown in terms of its location within the terrain. Below the surface hoar, existing windslabs are still intact and potentially reactive in steep, crossloaded alpine terrain. The recent flurries have now pushed the treeline and below treeline amounts within threshhold. Avalanche problems, notably loose dry avalanches, may be encountered in specific terrain (steep gullies or wind exposed areas). We can also start to expect fresh cornices at ridge lines.
Problems
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.
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.