Thinner areas are likely trigger spots for deep persistent slab releases. Expect danger at all elevations to increase if temperatures spike unexpectedly.
Weather Forecast
Sunday into Tuesday will bring a dusting of snow, clouds, and fluctuating temperatures. Daytime temperatures expected to remain around zero; however, models are uncertain for Monday and Tuesday's warmer temperatures and potentially strong winds.
Snowpack Summary
SW winds forming windslab along alpine ridge tops. A temperature crust is found on lower elevation slopes and a sun crust on southerly facing slopes into the alpine. A slab developing over the crust may result in an avalanche condition. Weak basal facets requires a large trigger, or a tickle in just the right spot, and would be a large avalanche.
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches reported today.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Monday
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.
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.