Although the hazard is low at all elevations, small avalanches are possible in extreme terrain and isolated areas. PW
Weather Forecast
Some isolated flurries are expected tonight and tomorrow but accumulations will only be in the 5cm range by end of day Monday. Cold nights and cool daytime temps in the alpine won't contribute to elevating avalanche hazards, but ridge top winds will be strong enough to move snow around and will be from the north so watch for evidence of reverse loading.
Avalanche Summary
There were no new avalanches observed.
Snowpack Summary
Variable windslabs exist at open treeline and alpine locations. Mod westerly winds today were transporting snow at treeline and above elevations and soft slabs are just starting to form on lee aspects. Steep solar aspects have a crust up to 2500m from yesterdays sun effect but there is still 10-15cm of low density snow on firm surfaces on northern, sheltered aspects which make for some good riding. The mid-pack is well settled, and depth hoar and facets round out the lower snowpack to ground.
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
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.