Choose mellow terrain and constantly assess the bond of the new snow to the old surface.
Avalanche danger is increasing through the day as new snow accumulates over weak, feathery crystals.
New snow is building up over 10-20 mm surface hoar in alpine and high treeline terrain throughout the day. If these large, feathery crystals stay preserved, avalanches could be bigger and more easily triggered than you'd expect.
No new avalanches have been reported in this region.
We expect that with the incoming snow, human-triggered avalanches will be likely, especially where the new snow falls on preserved surface hoar.
If you do go into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.
By the end of the day on Sunday, 15 to 25 cm of new snow will have buried 10-20 mm surface hoar in the alpine and at treeline.
Above 1900 m, this surface hoar formed on top of 10 - 40 cm of faceting snow over a supportive crust that exists to mountain tops.
Below 1900 m, the new snow will probably sit right over the crust.
Where snow still existed below treeline, it was isothermal or refrozen. Even with some new snow at lower elevations, travel will remain challenging.
Saturday Night
Cloudy. 5-7 cm of snow expected to near valley bottom. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow expected above 500 m. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -2 °C.
Monday
Sunny. 3 to 7 cm of snow expected above 600 m overnight. Light to moderate north ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -2 °C.
Tuesday
Sunny. No new snow expected. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to 250 m overnight, rising back to 900 m through the day. Treeline temperature around -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
