Choose low consequence terrain, and make observations as you travel.
Conditions are variable throughout the region and the avalanche danger could change with elevation and temperature.
Storm slabs will likely remain reactive. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible during periods of active loading.
Wet loose avalanches are possible as the new snow turns to rain with daytime warming.
With heavy snow and rain, a natural avalanche cycle started on Monday and continued into Wednesday. The reported avalanches have been large to very large (as big as size 4). These avalanches have been a mix of slab and loose, dry and wet.
Looking forward, we expect natural avalanches to start tapering off as the temperature drops, which will happen first in the north end of the forecast area.
Recent snowfall amounts throughout the region have been variable; 25 to 50 cm of settling storm snow has been redistributed into deep deposits on north and east aspects in the alpine. Ongoing rain has saturated the upper snowpack at and below treeline, with moist surface snow continuing into the alpine, as high as 2000 m.
A thick crust buried earlier in March can be found down 50 to 80 cm at treeline and below.
The early February crust, with facets above it, can be found down 100-160 cm.
The remainder of the snowpack is well settled and bonded.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 5-10 cm of snow. 25-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, falling to 15-30 km/h through the night. Freezing level between 1200 and 1700 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 15-25 cm of snow or moderate rain. 40-60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1300 to 2000 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
