Rising freezing levels and the sun can quickly destabilize the snowpack. Be aware of sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazards like cornices during the heat of the day.
Solar radiation and warm temperatures may weaken the surface snow creating a wet avalanche hazard. Where dry snow prevails (at the highest elevations), pockets of stubborn wind slab may lurk on lee slopes.
Daytime warming and solar radiation will promote moist snow surfaces, destabilizing the upper snowpack on all but the highest northerly slopes. Cornices loom over ridgelines and may become weak during periods warming.
The recent 40 cm of storm snow is reportedly settling and bonding to the old buried crusts. In general, the mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and bonded.
On Thursday and Friday, wet-loose avalanches to size 1.5 were reported from solar slopes and steep, rocky terrain.
On Wednesday, pinwheeling was seen on solar aspects and small dry loose sluffing seen on shaded aspects.
On Tuesday, natural and skier-triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1 were reported from the North Shore mountains.
On Monday, natural dry loose avalanches were reported from steep terrain features and explosive control initiated several storm slabs up to size 1. The storm slabs were 5 to 20 cm thick with very limited propagation and entrainment.
Saturday night
Starry sky with increasing clouds. South wind 15-20 km/hr. Treeline low temperature +3 C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Sunday
Increasing cloud with precipitation forecast to begin early Monday. Southeast wind increasing to 30-40 km/hr. Treeline high temperature +8 C, freezing level spiking around 1800 m.
MondayShowers and wet flurries starting Monday, 10-15 mm. Southeast wind decreases through the day as the temperature cools. Treeline high temperature +3 C, freezing level dropping to 1500 m.
TuesdayWet flurries, 5 mm. South wind gusting to 30 km/hr. Treeline temperature high +2 C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
