Enough snow and wind could tip the avalanches danger to HIGH at alpine elevations on Sunday. Back off if you encounter any clues like recent avalanches, whumpfing or shooting cracks.
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
Overnight Saturday, 10-25 cm snow is expected, with the freezing level rising to around 1600 m towards the end of the precipitation. Expect strong to gale SW winds. By late Monday, precipitation and wind are expected to ease. Light snow is possible on Tuesday.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported.
Snowpack Summary
Recent storm snow is likely to be shifted by strong winds into slabs overlying a hard crust or surface hoar. These may be easy to trigger with the weight of a person or snowmobile. Deeper snowpack weaknesses are still on our radar, but seem to be dormant for the time being.
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.
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.