Sustained warm temperatures and sun are forecast to continue this week. Loose wet avalanches will become increasingly likely as the surface crust breaks down, especially on steep sun exposed slopes.
The warming and sun are not expected to have a major impact on the previously rain soaked snowpack but surficial loose wet avalanches may become possible from steep, sun exposed slopes as the warming persists. The more the surface crust breaks down the more likely wet loose avalanches will become.
The region now sits under a warm ridge of high pressure which is expected to persist through the week bringing very high freezing levels and sun.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy, moderate NW wind, freezing levels rising 2400 to 3000 m.
Monday: Sunny, moderate NW wind, freezing levels around 3000 m.
Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud, light NW wind, freezing level 2700 m.
Wednesday: Sunny, light NW wind, freezing level 2700 m.
No new avalanche activity have been reported.
Observations remain limited. If you head out into the mountains, please share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
MIN reports from Saturday (1, 2, 3) describe hard conditions despite warm temperatures and sun. Perhaps by Monday we'll see some softening of the thick surface crust that reaches all the way to mountain top. Below this crust, snow is moist down 30-50 cm and several old crusts are now breaking down. The middle and base of the snowpack are well settled and strong, consisting of well bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.
