Until cold temperatures lock in this warm and wet snowpack, dangerous avalanche conditions and poor riding quality will exist.
Several layers of concern exist in the top 150 cm of the snowpack. Elevated freezing levels have made these layers more reactive.
Wet slab and wet loose avalanches are likely when the upper snowpack is saturated from rain and prolonged elevated freezing levels.
Sunday and Monday saw, numerous large to very large slab avalanches were reported from the region up to size 3.5. Avalanche activity has been observed at all elevations and at all elevations.
Light snowfall continues to accumulate in the high alpine and be redistributed by southerly winds. Moist snow exists to 2600 m and wet, saturated snow to 2200 m.
The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has been actively producing large slab avalanches failing down to the early/mid January persistent weak crust/facet layer (30-70 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down).
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy with light rain expected, south alpine wind 30 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 2500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with light rain/snow expected, southwest alpine wind 40 to 50 km/h, freezing level around 2800 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with light rain/rain possible, southeast alpine wind km/h, freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, isolated flurries, southeast alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing level rising to 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
