New snow and wind are forming fresh, reactive slabs over a crust. Wind slabs may remain triggerable for several days after the snowfall.
New snow and wind are forming fresh wind slabs which may be poorly bonded to underlying crusts. Shifting wind direction means wind deposits will be dynamic and found on a variety of aspects through the forecast period. Wind slabs will likely remain triggerable for a few days after the snowfall.
No recent avalanche observations. We are expecting some natural avalanche activity during intense loading by snow squalls on Monday. We expect human-triggered wind slabs to remain possible into the beginning of the week as the new snow gradually strengthens.
New snow falls amid strong wind over crusty surfaces at all elevations. Above 500 m, the semi-breakable crust caps a dry upper snowpack.
The remainder of the snowpack is composed of alternating layers of crusts and wind-hardened snow. Recent snowpack tests have produced results 40-60 cm deep on a layer of weak crystals sandwiched between two crusts. No avalanche activity has been observed on this layer and it is thought to be well-bridged by overlying crusts and dense snow.
Saturday night
5-15 cm of new snow. Strong southeast wind. Alpine low temperature -3.
Sunday
Wet flurries accumulating around 3 cm. Moderate southwest wind. Alpine high temperature 0. Freezing level peaking briefly at 500 m late morning.
Monday
Snow squalls bring 5-20 cm of new snow. Strong westerly wind overnight switching to moderate northwesterly. Alpine high temperature -5.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy with light flurries. Moderate westerly wind. Alpine high temperature -1.
The outlook for the end of the week shows a big warm up with freezing levels spiking to well over mountaintop with rain Thursday-Friday.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
