Conservative terrain travel is recommended, as snow and rain are expected to increase the danger.
New snow may rapidly form storm slabs as warm air and perhaps rain impact the region over Tuesday. If slabs form, they could be touchy to riders, as they may overly weak layers. Best to treat any smooth, steep slope as suspect.
Wet loose avalanches could be triggered anywhere rain soaks the snow surface.
A few small to large (size 1 to 2) wind slabs were observed on Sunday, being triggered naturally and by riders. They occurred on north to east aspects and where 20 to 50 cm deep, releasing on the surface hoar and facet layer described in the Snowpack Summary.
Looking forward, snow and rain will continue to load these weak layers and increase the likelihood of triggering them.
Snow is forecast to switch to rain between Monday night and Tuesday daytime. This will load a buried weak layer of feathery surface hoar and/or sugary faceted grains. These layers may be associated with a hard melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes.
The middle and base of the snowpack is largely weak and faceted. A hard crust may be found near the ground. Treeline snowpack depths are variable and generally range between 30 and 80 cm. Snowpack tapers rapidly as you move lower in elevation.
Monday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. Southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm snow above 2000 m and rain below. Southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising from 1500 m to 2500 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm snow above 1800 m and rain below. Southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 to 2000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm snow. Southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
