Heavy storm loading throughout the week will keep the avalanche danger at HIGH.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Monday: 15-25cm of new snow / Moderate westerly winds / Freezing level at 700mTuesday: 20-40cm of new snow / Moderate southerly winds / Freezing level at 750mWednesday: 40-60cm of new snow / Moderate southerly winds / Freezing level at 1200m
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported, but that may speak more to a lack of observations rather than actual conditions. I'm sure there was an impressive round of storm slab activity on Sunday, especially at higher elevations where the snow was colder and winds were stronger. With more snow and wind on the way, that trend should continue throughout the week.
Snowpack Summary
Above 1000m about 80 cm of new snow has fallen with over 100cm of new snow at higher elevations. Strong to extreme winds have redistributed the new snow into deep and dense storm slabs. This storm snow now covers a crust that was buried on January 17th. Below this crust the snowpack is generally strong and well-settled.
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.