A gradual cooling and overnight recovery should decrease the likelihood of avalanches.
Uncertainty remains on how quickly the persistent slabs will gain strength.
Cooling temperatures will decrease the likelihood of triggering persistent slabs. Uncertainty remains on how quickly these slabs will gain strength. Meanwhile, keep using caution, especially on shallow rocky alpine terrain.
On Wednesday, a few persistent slab avalanches (up to size 3) were observed on alpine south-facing slopes, probably triggered by daytime warming. Skier-triggered avalanches (size 2) also occurred in shallow rocky areas where the upper slab stepped down to the persistent slab. Small natural wet avalanches were also reported from steep solar slopes. Debris from the past widespread avalanche cycle are still visible throughout the region.
A widespread melt-freeze crust exists on the surface in most areas. The frozen surface may soften throughout the day at lower elevations and south-facing slopes. Dry powder snow can still exist on true north-facing alpine slopes. A weak layer of surface hoar is developing in sheltered terrain at treeline and above. At lower elevations, snowpack was isothermal over the last few days.
Various weak layers, including crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar exist approximately 90 and 180 cm below the surface.
Thursday Night
Clear with cloudy periods. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridegtop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level lowering to valley bottom.
Friday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
Saturday
Sunny. 30 to 50 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
