Today will be the last day of decent stability for awhile, as several pulses of weather are moving into our area tonight and will burry our beautifully large surface hoar layer and sun crusts.
Weather Forecast
We can expect cloud formation in valley bottoms and at mid elevation range today, with Alpine temps dropping below freezing again. The ridge of high pressure is breaking down and a weather system will move into our area tonight, bringing several cm of snow. Winds will be light and from the southwest. Snow is forecasted for wednesday into thursday.
Snowpack Summary
There is 20 mm surface hoar and near surface faceting affecting the snowpack at lower elevations. This layer will become a concern once it is buried. 6mm surface hoar can be found at tree line and above with sun crusts on steep solar aspects, variable wind effect and wind slab in exposed terrain at tree line and in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed yesterday, but several size 1.5-2.0 avalanches were observed in the highway corridor within the past few days. Point release activity has occurred on steeper solar aspects caused by above freezing temperatures at higher elevations.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Wednesday
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.