When has a bit of rain stopped an islander from having fun in the mountains? Be ready to manage variably crusty or isothermal snow and lingering cornices if you head out.
Island cornices already took a beating, but there are a few large ones left in classic spots with large fetches, like the summit ridge of Albert Edward. Avoid traveling under them and--as always--stay well back at ridgetop!
Cloud and light rain should keep the snowpack near isothermal as it melts away. Mostly this slushy snow creates difficult travel conditions, but if you get caught in heavier rain, wet loose avalanches may become possible on steep slopes.
No avalanches have been reported recently, and under current conditions, very little activity is expected. If you get out into the backcountry, post a MIN!
Tuesday's forecast gives us something to look forward to!
Otherwise, cloud cover and light rain continue to work against crust recovery, likely keeping the snowpack near an isothermal state as it continues to melt away. We lost about 20 cm at treeline in the last week.
Although minimal forecast rain doesn't promise much snowpack change, travelers should still watch for slushy, isothermal conditions. Aside from making travel difficult, wet loose avalanche danger can also develop when this condition is in play.
We still have about 170 cm at 1350 m but it's disappearing especially quickly on solar slopes.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, 2 to 3 mm. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, 1 to 3 mm. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with scattered showers, 1 to 3 mm, and a trace of alpine snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind, increasing. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Tuesday
Coudy with increasing snowfall bringing 10 to 20 cm of new snow above 1000 m, rain below. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
