A cooling temperature trend is improving the snowpack. Wind slabs may still linger in lee and cross-loaded terrain.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: A mix of clouds and clear skies, light to moderate winds from south, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and clouds, light to moderate southwest winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.THURSDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, light to moderate winds from southeast, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, light to moderate winds from southwest, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level at valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
No new significant avalanche activity was observed or reported on Monday. However, there continue to be a sizeable persistent slab avalanche reported every few days.
Snowpack Summary
On south aspects, you will likely find a sun crust as it freezes with temperature cooling. Wind slabs may still linger in lee and cross-loaded terrain features in alpine and exposed treeline terrain.The middle and lower portions of the snowpack are generally well-settled and strong. However, there still remains a few deeper weaknesses in the snowpack around treeline and alpine elevations. Professionals are still tracking a layer around 150 to 200 cm deep, composed of sugary faceted grains, feathery surface hoar, and a sun crust. The base of the snowpack may also still be composed of weak faceted grains. These layers would most likely be triggered by humans in areas where the snowpack is shallow.
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.
Persistent Slabs
Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.