Danger levels will increase with direct sunlight and with warming throughout the day. Pay attention to the large cornices overhead, and don't forget that low elevation crusts may have broken down by mid-day.
Weather Forecast
Sunny with cloudy periods today with an alpine high of -7*C. Freezing levels will rise to 1300m, but it will certainly feel warmer in the direct sun. Winds will remain light from the west. Tuesday will see similar conditions but slightly higher temps.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow in the alpine totaled 20-30cm over the weekend. Moderate to strong SW winds have redistributed it and formed wind slabs in alpine lee features. Cold overnight temp's have formed a supportive crust below tree-line. Cornices are big in the alpine and if they fail, they may trigger one of the multiple crusts lingering in the upper snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
One notable cornice-triggered size 3 avalanche from Railroad Gunners made it down to the fan. Several skier accidental and skier cut size 1.5's were reported from Bonney Moraines, N Cheops, and Balu Ridge descending into 8812 bowl. These were reported to be 20-30cm deep, running on the storm interface on N aspects and on a crust on SE aspects.
Confidence
Due to the number of field observations
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.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.