Long Range Mountains

Generally safe avalanche conditions on Saturday. Crusty surfaces may soften with mild daytime warming.

No recent avalanche observations.

A dusting of recent snow may be found over crusty surfaces at all elevations. Above 500 m, the semi-breakable crust caps a dry upper snowpack.

The remainder of the snowpack is composed of alternating layers of crusts and wind-hardened snow. Recent snowpack tests have produced results 40-60 cm deep on a layer of weak crystals sandwiched between two crusts. No avalanche activity has been observed on this layer and it is thought to be well-bridged by overlying crusts and dense snow.

Friday night

Increasing cloud. Light southeast wind. Alpine low temperature -6.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. Moderate southwest wind building to strong and switching southeast in the evening. Alpine high temperature -1.

Sunday

5-10 cm of new snow overnight, turning to light rain in the morning. Moderate to strong wind switching back to southwest in the early morning. Alpine high temperature +4. FL 2000 m dropping to sea level by evening.

Monday

Snow squalls bring 5-20 cm of new snow. Strong westerly to northwesterly wind. Alpine high temperature -7.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with light flurries. Moderate westerly wind. Alpine high temperature -5.

The outlook for the end of the week shows a big warm up with freezing levels spiking to well over mountaintop with 10-15 mm of rain Thursday-Friday.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.