Although a strong surface or near-surface crust has reduced the likelihood of triggering an avalanche, use caution anywhere the crust is absent or thin and weak.
Avalanches remain possible in areas where a crust on or just below the surface is unsupportive (does not hold your weight) or where no crust exists.
No recent avalanche activity has been reported since the warm, wet storm earlier this week.
If you've been out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the MIN.
Trace amounts of new snow are accumulating over a widespread melt–freeze crust, which varies in thickness and strength with elevation. Beneath this crust, the snow remains moist due to the recent warm and wet weather. Some alpine areas may remain crust-free.
The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled and well-bonded, sitting above a thick melt-freeze crust that comprises most of the lower snowpack.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 to 150 cm and thin rapidly at lower elevations. In many areas, especially below treeline, slopes lack enough snow to cover ground roughness and produce avalanches.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. Trace amounts of snow at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Monday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 15 to 25 cm of snow at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
