Watch for recently formed wind slabs in upper elevation terrain.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations on Sunday
Weather Forecast
A dry ridge of high pressure is forecast to develop for the forecast period. Expect increasingly clear skies, no snowfall and light ridge top winds. Freezing levels should hover around valley bottom for all 3 days.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, size 1 soft wind slabs were ski cut in steep, unsupported terrain. The new avalanches formed in response to new snow and wind over the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
Over the weekend the region received 15-20cm of new low-density snow. At higher elevations, generally moderate southeasterly winds have redistributed much of that snow into soft wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. In the upper 70cm of the snowpack you may find a layer of weak surface hoar which was the culprit with a recent avalanche on an east aspect at treeline in the Fitzsimmons Range. Although not much is known about its distribution, this layer may be something to watch as the overlying slab gets deeper and gains cohesion through settlement, storm loading and wind pressing.The mid and lower snowpack are generally considered to be strong and well-settled.
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.