As temperatures drop on Friday night, new snow will be accumulating at upper elevations.
This new snow, accompanied by strong wind, is expected to form fresh, reactive slabs.
Up to 30 cm of new snow accompanied by strong southwest wind is expected to form fresh, reactive wind slabs in the alpine and treeline.
Up to 30 cm of new snow at upper elevations will be redistributed by strong southwest wind on Friday night. Snow depth varies rapidly with elevation. There is no snow below 1000 m, about 20 to 60 cm at treeline, and up to 120 cm in the high alpine.
Overall, the snowpack is strong without any layers of concern.
With a limited early-season snowpack, there are not many reports from the backcountry. There have been no recent reports of avalanches.
Following Friday night's storm, there is the potential for reactive wind slabs to exist in the alpine and treeline where precipitation falls as snow.
If you head into the mountains, please share any observations or photos on the MIN.
Cloudy. 4 to 25 mm of rain transitioning to snow at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 25 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Cloudy. 30 to 55 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
