Strong winds, moderate to heavy precipitation and significant warming are creating dangerous conditions.
Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 35 to 70 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating larger than expected avalanches.
10 to 25 cm of new snow is expected by Tuesday afternoon. Storm slabs will be most reactive in wind-loaded areas or in areas seeing rain for the first time.
Freezing levels are expected to rise to 2000 m, bringing rain to new elevations. Wet loose avalanches will be most likely in areas where a dry snow surface is being rained on for the first time.
Saturday
A few storm slabs were observed up to size 2.
Friday
Several loose wet avalanches and one slab avalanche up to size 2 were observed.
With more precipitation, strong winds and warming in the forecast, the danger is expected to remain elevated with large natural avalanches possible and human-triggering likely.
Observations have been limited by poor visibility and difficult weather, so be sure to post your observations to the MIN if you get out!
Strong southwesterly winds and 10 to 20 mm of precipitation is expected to accumulate overnight and through Tuesday, with freezing levels potentially reaching 2000 m. The snow surface will be wet below the snow/rain line
A hard crust with a persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 35 to 70 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches. Previous rain events may have neutralized this problem at lower elevations.
The remaining snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 150 cm to 250 cm.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy. 15 to 20 mm of rain at treeline. 70 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1950 m.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
