Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain. Natural avalanches are expected to continue as temperatures rise, and wind/snow/rain continues.
Expect deeper and more reactive slabs in wind affected terrain. Storm snow sits over surface hoar and a crust, human and naturally triggered avalanches are likely.
Lower elevations hold saturated snow that may slide easily on a buried crust.
A large, widespread natural avalanche cycle is ongoing. Wet avalanches have been observed at lower elevations, while storm, wind and persistent slab avalanches continue above. Avalanches have been running within the storm snow, and on buried weak layers, including the early January surface hoar and late December crust.
Another 30 to 50 cm of storm snow is expected by Tuesday evening, raising storm totals to 110 to 200 cm. Storm snow has been redistributed by strong southerly winds at upper elevations, and is settling rapidly due to warm temperatures. Surface snow is likely wet at low elevations, and moist to ridgeline from recent rain and warm temperatures.
A layer of large surface hoar is buried 90 to 140 cm in sheltered treeline features. Below treeline, a crust is found at this interface. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled with no current layers of concern. Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 cm to 450 cm.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 40-60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 45 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level begins at 1400 m and drops over the day.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
