Watch for pockets of hard windslab sitting on rotten facets in the alpine. These slabs can be triggered by a person and shoot off the slope like an oversized cookie - a disastrous scenario in steep, exposed terrain.
Weather Forecast
Continuing clear and cold for the next few days. Alpine highs of -10*C, light easterly ridge winds, and sunshine today. More of the same tomorrow, with a slightly warmer high of -7*C in the alpine. A minor disturbance may roll through Wednesday night or Thursday, bringing flurries and moderate winds from the SW.
Snowpack Summary
Expect surface facets and a variety of windslab in most locations. Sun crust will be found on steeper solar terrain making for difficult travel. Moderate to strong winds have deposited thin wind slabs on exposed terrain features at ridge-top and exposed treeline areas. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity was observed in the highway corridor yesterday, nor were there any reports from the backcountry of avalanches. Several dry, loose point releases from steep solar aspects were noted on Saturday, failing in the surface facets.
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.