The snowpack will be tested once again with incoming snow, rain, winds and fluctuating freezing levels.
Recently redistributed snow is sitting on top of a layer of weak facets from the February drought, which rests on old wind slabs, crusts, or depth hoar. Even with cooling temperatures, new snow or rain will put this weak layer under more stress. Human triggering will remain likely.
Recent avalanche activity on this layer was reported by the local ski hill in the surrounding backcountry on Friday. The large depth hoar at the base of the snowpack remains inherently weak. While cooler temperatures may slow things down, the incoming snow or rain could reactivate this problem.
Today's warmer weather triggered additional new persistent slab avalanche activity up to size 2, along with numerous wet loose avalanches to size 2. Neighboring operations continue to report natural size 2-3 persistent slab activity.
As temperatures begin to cool, incoming snow or potential rain will add new load, further destabilizing the snowpack. Avalanche conditions still remain serious, even if not immediately obvious.
Freezing levels rose to 3000m again on Sunday, creating moist surface snow. Expect crust formation, especially on solar aspects, with the overnight refreeze.
Moderate to strong winds have redistributed last week’s snow, loading leeward features while stripping alpine and exposed treeline areas.
The top 10-30cm sits over weak February facets atop old wind slabs, crusts, or depth hoar. Below 1800m, warmth has saturated the weak snowpack.
Sunday evening will bring cloudy skies with some 5-10cm of new snow. Alpine temperatures will reach a low of -6 °C with light winds. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Monday could see an additional 2-4cm. Freezing levels will eventually descend throughout the day to 1600m.
Only slightly cooler temperatures are expected for the rest of the week with light winds and fairly clear skies.
