Large, overhanging cornices are primed for triggering with high freezing levels and sunny skies.
Keep overhead hazards in mind, cornices could trigger wind slabs at upper elevations.
Extreme wind speed will continue to redistribute any dry snow found at upper elevations building wind slabs in lee terrain features. Wind slabs may build further downslope than expected.
Cornices are large and overhanging and remain a concern while warm temperatures and sunny skies persist. Cornice growth may continue during forecasted extreme winds at upper elevations.
Sunny skies and high freezing levels may be the right combination to bring wet loose avalanches back online. These may be more sensitive where snow at upper elevations has not yet been influenced by warming or rain.
On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered wet loose avalanches were reported up to size 1.5. This activity is expected to continue as storm snow is impacted by solar radiation.
In the alpine, strong winds have stripped windward terrain and build wind slabs in lee terrain features. At treeline and below, rain has saturated the upper snowpack.
Above 2000 m, up to 40 cm of rapidly settling snow is generally bonding well to a crust with properties that are aspect and elevation dependent, and combined with facets at treeline and above, and surface hoar in sheltered areas.
The mid to lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Snowpack depth ranges from 150 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.
Cornices are reported to be large and looming. Be mindful of them overhead and when travelling on ridge tops.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 mm of rain at treeline. 80 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Wednesday
Sunny. 90 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Friday
Sunny. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
