New snow is being redistributed by moderate winds, developing wind slabs at upper elevations.
Watch out for signs of instability, and assess steep, lee terrain features before committing.
Roughly 15 to 20 cm of new snow coupled with moderate southwest wind has likely built wind slabs in lee terrain features above 1700 m where recent precipitation fell as snow.
Wet avalanches remain possible with the addition of solar influence combined with elevated freezing levels. This problem will likely be more pronounced on solar facing slopes where precipitation fell as snow at upper elevations.
Several wet loose avalanches were reported over the weekend, involving the most recent storm snow over the robust crust.
Upper elevations may be holding some dry snow that may be redistributed by moderate southwest wind building wind slabs in lee features.
Roughly 15 to 20 cm of heavy snow has buried wind affected surfaces at upper elevations. At treeline and below the upper snowpack is saturated.
Below this, a variable (robust to breakable) crust sits over a facet layer at treeline and above. In sheltered features a surface hoar layer may have survived the recent warm temperatures and rain.
The mid/lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
Snowpack depth ranges between 100 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 1 to 2 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
