Warming temperatures and rain will further weaken the snowpack, increasing loose wet avalanche activity, especially during and shortly after precipitation shifts from snow to rain.
Higher elevations may continue to receive precipitation as snow. In these areas, storm slabs are likely, especially where wind has redistributed new snow into deeper deposits.
Both natural and rider-triggered avalanches are likely anywhere the upper snowpack is being saturated by rain.
No avalanche activity has been reported since the stormy weather earlier this week.
Looking ahead, snowfall and strong winds at higher elevations may continue to build fresh wind and storm slabs. At lower elevations, rain is likely to destabilize the upper snowpack, increasing the likelihood of wet loose avalanche activity.
Rainfall and rising temperatures are continuing through the weekend, which will create wet surface snow at and below treeline. In alpine terrain, precipitation may continue as snow, accompanied by strong winds.
A thick crust formed last weekend is now buried beneath 30 to 50 cm of snow.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally moist, well-settled, and dense, with average depths of 100–150 cm at treeline.
Saturday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Sunday
Cloudy. 25 to 50 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Monday
Cloudy. 60 to 120 mm of rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
