Continually assess the snow surface and watch for natural avalanche activity as you move through terrain. There is uncertainty in how the snowpack will respond to the rapidly changing freezing levels.
Wet slab and wet loose avalanches will likely continue to occur due to elevated freezing levels. The underlying crust will make a good sliding surface and may result in greater propagation.
Thursday night: No new snow expected. Moderate to strong southwest winds. Possibility of temperature inversion with above freezing layer in the alpine.
Friday: Stormy with up to 10 cm of new snow at higher elevations and rain below. Moderate to strong southwest winds and freezing levels around 2000 m during the day and falling to 1500 m in the evening.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of snow. Light to moderate west winds and freezing levels around 1200 m.
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light west winds and freezing levels around 1200 m.
Over the past few days storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5 were triggered on all aspects at treeline. Triggers included ski cuts, vehicle and skier remotes and explosives. Several small natural cornice falls were also observed.
On Wednesday several size 1.5 wet loose avalanches were observed on solar aspects. We suspect wet slab and wet loose avalanches will be observed throughout the region on all aspects on Thursday and Friday.
Moist or wet snow will be observed on all aspects and elevations. AS the freezing level falls during the day on Friday a new thick and supportive crust will form.
Multiple crusts exist in the upper snowpack. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled.
