***Updated 7:20 am***
Allow recent storm snow to settle and bond, and choose conservative terrain accordingly.
Storm slabs are present at all elevations. Recent winds have created dangerous conditions on leeward alpine slopes, while a buried surface hoar layer at treeline and below may produce surprisingly touchy conditions in sheltered areas.
A widespread avalanche cycle occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, up to size 2 at all aspects and elevations. Several of these avalanches occurred below treeline, sliding on buried surface hoar, and releasing in surprisingly low-angle terrain.
A few explosive-controlled avalanches have failed on the mid-November crust, all size 2 or smaller.
If you are getting out into the mountains, please consider posting your observations to the MIN.
Approximately 40 to 70 cm of recent storm snow has accumulated atop a widespread layer of faceted snow or surface hoar.
A hard crust buried in mid-November exists at lower-alpine elevations (~2400 m) and below, but is absent in higher-alpine terrain. This crust is approximately 50 to 90 cm below the surface at treeline.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 90 to 140 cm, thinning quickly at lower elevations.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy. Trace amounts of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. Trace amounts of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C, and warming through the day. Freezing level 2000 m by the end of the day.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
