Large cornices are hard to pinpoint when travelling on a ridge top and can be easily triggered by the weight of a person; so stay well back. Looking at approaching big lines? Make sure to read this new blog.
Cornices have grown large recently but are generally not expected to fail naturally with the current and forecasted conditions. However, human-triggered cornices are possible so give them a wide berth when travelling on ridges and watch for signs that they may be weakening if they are exposed to extended periods of sun.
A surface low tracking across Montana is spilling over the south part of the region tonight. By Sunday, a weak ridge of high pressure will build over, brining a drier day. Early next week, a low-pressure system from the BC Coast will bring light to moderate precipitation into the interior ranges.
SATURDAY NIGHT: 3-5 cm localized accumulations / light variable wind / treeline low around -10 C / freezing level at valley bottom.
SUNDAY: Partially cloudy / scattered localized flurries / light west wind / treeline high around -2 C / freezing level rising to 1600 m and back at valley bottom at night.
MONDAY: Increasing cloudiness / continued precipitation starting midday and continuing overnight total 5-10 cm / moderate south wind gusting 40 km/h / treeline high of +1 C / freezing level rising to 1800 m and remaining elevated at night.
TUESDAY: Snow 5-10 cm / moderate southwesterly winds gusting 50 km/h / treeline high around +3C/ freezing level around to 2100 m.
Observations are limited this time of year. No new avalanches were reported in the last 24 hours.
If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network by sharing snow / riding conditions.
10-30 cm of snow sits over a widespread melt-freeze crust formed on April 8. Periods of strong wind earlier this week have redistributed this snow in exposed terrain
forming wind slabs or hard wind pressed surfaces. Cornices have grown large recently, but are expected to be relatively stable with the current cold temperatures. A sun crust has formed on steep sun-exposed slopes.
A thick rain crust with facets above from early December is buried around 100-200 cm deep. Large avalanches were naturally triggered on this layer during the last significant warming event in the western part of the region near the Bugaboos. Although not a concern for the weekend, we expect it will wake up again with the next major input of warming and sun, or rainfall.
