Avalanche danger is expected to increase throughout the day with forecast snowfall and strong wind.If you see more than 25 cm of fresh snow expect danger to be HIGH in the alpine
A persistent weak layer consisting of buried surface hoar or a crust/facet combo is buried 40 to 70 cm. New snow amounts may overload these weak layers.
Storm slabs will be building on all aspects, but are expected to be deeper and most reactive on lee northerly and easterly slopes near ridgetops.
Several explosive and skier-triggered avalanches (size 1 to 2) have been reported across the region since Wednesday. These avalanches generally occured in the alpine and treeline. They failed within recent storm snow, on buried surface hoar, or a crust/facet combination described in the snowpack summary.
With significant new snow and wind in the forecast, the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches will increase throughout the stormy period.
10 - 30 cm of new snow is expected to fall by the end of the day Sunday. This snow will overlie 10 - 20 cm of recent heavy, dense snow that covers a variety of old wind-affected or crusty surfaces.
In sheltered areas in parts of the region, surface hoar may be found buried 20 to 50 cm.
A widespread crust exists down roughly 40 to 70 cm. In many areas, small, weak faceted grains have formed just above or below this crust.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of new snow, 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1500 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow, 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Partly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow, 20 km/h westerly ridgetop wind, treeline temperature -7 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with 2 to 7 cm of snow, 15 to 30 km/h variable ridgetop wind, treeline temperature -10 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
