Beautiful weather for the weekend an inversion setting up for Sunday-Monday with warmer temperatures aloft. Watch for lingering alpine wind slabs, which are the most likely threat to backcountry users.
We have seen a few small windslabs triggered in steep alpine terrain, but many areas exist where this is not a problem. If you are venturing into steep alpine terrain and the surface is wind affected, be careful as this might be enough of a problem to ruin your day.
On Thursday, a few wind-triggered loose dry avalanches were observed in the cliffs above the Ogden benches.
No new slab avalanches were observed or recorded over the past 48 hours. However, a few skier-triggered wind slabs were reported Thursday on Emerald Peak.
Up to 8 cm of new snow over the last 48 hours at treeline.
The wind effect exists in the high alpine, but many sheltered areas have soft snow. The mid-pack is generally strong; however, a facet layer can be found near the ground in shallow snowpack areas. At treeline, average snowpack depth ranges from 110 to 160 cm.
Saturday: -15C in the morning, warming to -10.
Upper-level temperatures climb through Saturday night creating an inversion for Sunday with mountain-top temperatures reaching near 0C by the afternoon and into Monday.
Skies will be mostly sunny for the weekend with light to moderate northerly winds.
