Approaching storms will bring snow and strong winds to the region. As a result danger levels will rise for the first time in weeks. It is time to choose more conservative terrain.
Confidence
Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Up to 5cm of new snow is expected overnight. Tuesday will be windy with occasional light flurries and temperatures near -11. Wednesday could bring as much as 25cm of new snow. Strong west winds are expected to accompany this storm.
Avalanche Summary
Nothing new.
Snowpack Summary
Strong SW winds today led to some redistribution of snow in high Alpine regions. Thin wind slabs are possible in immediate lee features on North through East aspects in the Alpine. Otherwise surface conditions include surface hoar, facets, wind slab and sun crust. The mid pack remains supportive in most areas, but the basal weakness remains.
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.