Danger Ratings could rise higher than forecast depending on the amount of rain and height of freezing levels on Tuesday. Be aware of overhead hazards.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain
Weather Forecast
A warm and windy day is expected Tuesday with freezing levels climbing to 2700m and light flurries possible. Up to 5cm of snow for Wednesday with strong, gusty west winds.
Avalanche Summary
A few small slab avalanches (Size 1.0 to 1.5) have been reported to office in past 48hrs. These have been mostly 10 to 30cm thick wind slabs and have been either ski-cuts or natural triggered on steep E and NE aspects.Two size 1.0 loose dry avalanches were reported to flow over the ice climb "Amadeus" in the front ranges earlier today. Though not large, these slides would have been enough to know a climber off of their stance.
Snowpack Summary
Surface facetting. Some snow transport at ridgetop due to strong winds. Variable wind slab in Alpine. October rain crust down 50 to 70cm in Alpine. Below treeline remains below threshold.
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.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.