Expect small avalanches to run far and fast where new snow sits on top of a crust.
Confidence
Low - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
5-10cm of snow expected by Monday morning with light to moderate westerly winds at ridgetop. Monday will be a break in the stormy weather, then back into snow on Tuesday. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom Sunday night and should hover around 1500m throughout the forecast period.
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday no new avalanches were reported in this region, but we expect this to change with Sunday's snow.
Snowpack Summary
Expect Sunday's snow to build touchy wind slabs on lee aspects in alpine and open treeline. The new snow will be on top of a crust in many areas which will increase the distance that small avalanches run. The mid February layer is down 30-60cm and is a crust in most areas. This layer is generally well bonded to the overlying persistent slab. However, in isolated ares there is surface hoar or facets overlying this crust making the interface much more likely to produce large avalanches.
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.