Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure to overhead avalanche terrain.
Heavy rain and high freezing levels will continue to create very dangerous conditions.
Cornices are large and looming. Strong winds and warming temperatures may increase the sensitivity. Cornices may trigger wet slabs or may step down to the persistent slab, creating larger than expected avalanches.
Persistent slabs remain problematic at treeline and above, especially in areas without a supportive crust above the weak layer. Warm temperatures and precipitation will make this problem more sensitive.
Rising freezing levels and rain are continuing to soak the surface snow. Wet slabs are more likely at upper elevations, while wet loose will be more likely at lower elevations, particularly where the wet snow sits over a supportive crust.
On Wednesday and Thursday, natural wet avalanche cycles were reported (up to size 2.5) throughout the region, including wet loose, wet slabs and cornice falls at treeline and above from all aspects.
Looking ahead, natural avalanches are expected, particularly in areas where avalanche paths have not yet released.
High freezing levels and steady rain are continuing to soak the top 20 to 50 cm of surface snow up to the mountain tops.
A crust, buried in early March, is down 30 to 50 cm on all aspects. The thickness of the crust depends on elevation (1 to 10 cm).
At upper elevations, where the crust is thinner or not present, problematic persistent slabs linger. They consist of multiple buried weak layers of surface hoar and/or crusts in the top 120 cm of the snowpack.
The mid/lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.
The snowpack rapidly diminishes at lower elevations and is moist to the ground in shallower areas.
Thursday Night
Cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 10 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 2 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 2 cm of snow at treeline. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
