How's the local snowpack going to play this year?

Lot's of ice around. Wet cold front coming this weekend followed by dry Cold. Is it likely to be a couple of PWL's near the ground?

my guess will be a heavy rain event between now and sometime later to flush those pwl's.
b

Lot's of ice around.  Wet cold front coming this weekend followed by dry Cold.  Is it likely to be a couple of PWL's near the ground?

I've been watching what the snow's done all week and was starting to file that into the 'concerned' section of the brain, but the last forecast I read talked of the possibility of rain coming in warm, wet and heavy Sunday AM before a dramatic temp drop, which would be nice.

Thanks for starting this conversation. My partner and I were talking about that this morning at the pass and I had meant to do the same...then I had to start sampling the 'signature house drinks' mountain mama's preparing for dinner.

Does the advent of heavy rain indicate that the icy wind crusts will be warmed enough to create a bonding surface for the impending snow or does it indicate that the rain will cause significant melt that could create unstable circumstance or perhaps a bit of both depending on location and elevations? Always looking to be enlightened as there are many tayers with insight worth noting.

Kind of a tricky thing to project. I'd like to see a brief 7- 8,000 freezing level with slow descending temps, and another front behind, not excessive wind. Followed by one more with 4,500 down to 2k or less. I believe in a bonding phenomenon starting wet but dropping somewhat gradually in temps. Not quite what's in the cards. This weather has a semi-warm start, lots of wind and a bump up, then a fairly quick cooling event. Hoping to see at least 6" after the cooling trend expected later Sunday/early Monday but I think that's optimistic.

Here are a few brief thoughts on what might happen with the current storm and my guess on whether or not it will bond well to the old surface.  This might be a good layer to track this season.  At least it should be easy to find in the snowpack.  This event might also be a good motivator to read more about faceting near rain crusts.  It's a pretty complicated but interesting topic and something very relevant to backcountry skiers in the northwest.  
www.ncmountainguides.com/2013/11/30/faceting-above-crusts/