Avalanche hazard exists in areas with a surviving snowpack, like alpine bowls, gullies and ridgelines. Danger will decrease as cooling temperatures refreeze the rain-soaked snowpack.
Rapid temperature fluctuations may have a destabilizing effect on large, looming cornices. Even small cornice falls can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly.
Loose wet avalanches remain possible in steep terrain while temperatures remain above zero.
Early in the week, a natural avalanche cycle was reported on north to east aspects in the alpine. Slabs were up to size 2.5 with crowns up to 100 cm deep, sliding on a crust layer. Thank you for the amazing MIN reports! Check out the photos on this one!
We suspect a subsequent wet avalanche cycle to have occurred during the rain later in the week as well.
A rain-soaked snowpack will begin to refreeze on Saturday as temperatures cool rapidly. Rain has washed away the snowpack in many areas. Areas where the snowpack is most likely to have survived include previously wind-loaded leeward terrain features such as alpine bowls, gullies and ridgelines. These are also the types of features where large cornices loom above.
Friday night
Rain tapering, 5 to 10 mm. Ridgetop wind 60 to 80 km/h south. Alpine temperature +8 C.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 60 to 80 km/h south. Alpine temperature dropping from +6 C to +1 C as freezing level drops from 3000 m to 500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy. Ridgetop wind 10 to 20 km/h southeast. Alpine temperature 0 C. Freezing level 300 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 10 to 30 km/h east. Alpine temperature -1 C. Freezing level 200 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind 20 to 40 km/h northeast. Alpine temperature -1 C. Freezing level 200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
