Snowfall, wind, and warming are a recipe for dangerous avalanche conditions!
It's a good day to avoid overhead hazard make conservative terrain choices.
Stormy conditions on Wednesday will continue to build fresh storm slabs, with deeper, more reactive deposits in wind-loaded terrain.
In areas where rain is impacting dry snow, wet loose avalanches are likely in steep terrain.
On Monday, several natural size 1 to 2 storm slabs were observed at treeline and below. One size 1 natural wind slab was observed on Zoa peak from below a south-facing alpine cliffband.
Looking forward to Wednesday, ongoing snowfall and wind will continue to form reactive storm slabs, which could be surprisingly deep, especially in wind-loaded terrain.
Up to 15 cm of new snow by end of day Wednesday overlies over 100 cm of settled storm snow from the past week. Strong southerly winds have created a variety of surfaces - wind slabs and loaded pockets in lee features, scoured rock in open terrain, and storm slabs and softer snow in sheltered areas.
Below this recent snowfall, a melt-freeze crust could exist to near mountaintop. The depth of this crust is highly variable due to extensive recent wind transport.
Snow depths at the treeline are estimated to range from 200 to 250 cm.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
