Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
The region remains under the influence of a cold and mostly dry Arctic Air mass. Wednesday brings light winds out of the North under clear skies. A daytime H of -19 is expected at 1500m with an overnight low of -32. Thursday looks to be more of the same. The pattern changes a bit on Friday as a frontal system makes its way inland, but at the moment the northern extent of the system is uncertain. Those details should tighten up as we get closer to the weekend.
Avalanche Summary
One small & shallow slab avalanche was reported from the region Monday. Reports indicate that skier triggered loose snow avalanches are still possible, but, loose snow avalanche activity has slowed way down.
Snowpack Summary
The weekend storm delivered 20 - 40 cm of snow to the region. Initially, there was a widespread cycle of loose dry avalanches running to size 2, but that kind of activity has dropped off. The snowpack is tightening up now, and in most places you'll find well settled storm snow. The exception is terrain immediately lee of ridge crest where you will likely find a soft slab that is capable of avalanches to size 2. If the wind picks up there is plenty of snow available for transport which will quickly be formed into wind slabs. But, all signs point to continued low winds through at least Thursday.
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.