7am update: It's exciting to see new snow, but don't allow that to affect your decision-making. Be patient and choose mellow terrain. The new snow needs time to settle.
Up to 30 cm of new snow accompanied by strong southerly winds will form fresh, reactive storm slabs that may be deepest and most reactive in wind-loaded terrain.
No new avalanches have been reported, but conditions are expected to change with the arrival of new snow on Friday night and Saturday.
Looking forward to Saturday, new snow and wind are expected to form fresh, reactive storm slabs. Head out with a conservative mindset and look for signs of instability as you travel through terrain.
If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.
15 to 40 cm of new snow overlies a widespread crust, that varies in thickness and strength. In the alpine, this new snow has been redistributed by strong southerly winds.
The mid and lower snowpack appears to be well-bonded, but field observations have been limited early in the season.
The height of snow at treeline is roughly 50 to 100 cm, and decreases drastically at lower elevations.
Friday night
Cloudy with snowfall, 5 to 10 cm of accumulation, southwest alpine wind 30 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -5 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy with snowfall, 5 to 15 cm of accumulation, southwest alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h, treeline temperature -4 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with snow turning to rain below 800 m, 5 to 25 cm of new snow accumulation, southwest alpine wind 40 to 80 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with a mix of rain and snow, 5 to 20 cm of new snow accumulation at high elevations, southwest alpine wind 50 to 100 km/h, treeline temperature rising to 1 °C, freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
