Windslabs have formed on variety of aspects with shifting winds. It's expected to stay cold for a few more days.
Confidence
High - The weather pattern is stable
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny, light to moderate northeast wind, alpine temperature -14 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light north wind, alpine temperature -15 C.THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy with possible flurries, light northwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday there were a few reports of size 1 loose dry natural avalanches. On Saturday, several explosives triggered wind slab avalanches were reported to size 2 on northerly aspects in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
40-50 cm of new snow from the end of last week has been redistributed by strong southwesterly winds initially and now northerly winds. This sits on a crust on all aspects except north and possibly a mixture of weak feathery surface hoar or sugary facets in isolated sheltered terrain at treeline and below. The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled.
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.