Visibility in the Alpine should improve on Wednesday with recent snowfall making for some good ski travel conditions at treeline and above.
Weather Forecast
Expect light snowfall to continue through Tuesday with continued moderate southerly winds and cool temperatures. Wednesday may see some patches of blue before warmer temperatures and a moist Pacific system begin to dominate the west starting Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
Last weeks's warm temperatures and rain resulted in a widespread crust up to 2400m on all aspects. Higher elevations have wind affected surfaces in exposed areas and wind slabs on lee aspects. 15-20 cm of storm snow has accumulated over either crust or wind hammered snow. The snowpack is resting on weak basal facets that are 15cm-25cm deep.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches reported today. Visibility was poor due to cloudy conditions and snowfall.
Confidence
Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
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.