High freezing levels and potential rain are keeping the danger elevated.
Watch for lingering high-elevation wind slabs, and avoid overhead hazards when the snow surface is wet.
Triggering wind slabs may be possible along north through easterly sides of ridge crests and lee features where the snow remains dry, or new snow accumulates. Avoid travelling on or below cornices where possible.
Warm overnight tempertaures and potential rain are expected to melt the surface crust creating the potential for wet loose avalanches. Avoid exposure to overhead hazards where the snow surface is wet.
A small natural wet loose cycle has occurred over the past few days, generally in the size 1 range, with isolated cases of size 2 to 3 reported.
Additionally, two small skier-triggered wind slabs occurred on northerly alpine slopes above 2500 m on Thursday. Some cornice failures were also reported in the region.
Soft, dry or wind-pressed snow can still be found on shady northerly through easterly slopes at upper elevations. These areas may have isolated lingering wind slabs.
All other slopes will have a widespread melt-freeze crust, which may soften and melt with daytime warming or rain, creating the potential for wet loose sluffing.
At lower elevations, warm overnight temperatures may prevent a refreeze, resulting in wet surface snow.
Crusts from late March are buried 10 to 80 cm deep, elevation and aspect dependent.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong with no additional layers of concern.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 0 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level falling to 2150 m.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. 0 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2400 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 8 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level around 2300 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level around 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
