Watch for unstable snow on isolated features: windslabs in the high alpine, and loose wet avalanches on steep slopes that face the sun.
Some dry snow remains on shaded slopes at high elevations. If the wind picks up, small windslabs could form below ridgetops.
Carfully evaluate for windslab hazard before committing to bigger features.
Earlier this week, a wet storm soaked the surface snow up to 2500 m. Expect a good recovery and refreeze overnight, however the expected daytime warming will continue to support loose wet avalanches as a problem, especially on south and west facing terrain when the sun makes an appearance.
Watch for signs of a loose, wet snowpack, like snow pinwheeling or snowballing down the slope, or surface snow that looks and feels like a slurpy.
No new avalanches were reported before 5 pm on Thursday.
On Tuesday, field teams reported observing a number of large (size 2) wet loose avalanches that started in steeper terrain and ran down onto 30 degree slopes but not running full path.
If you have any observations from this region, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
In the alpine and around treeline, 5-10 cm of new snow covers a frozen crust, with moist snow below.
The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong at treeline and above.
A melt-freeze crust that was buried in mid January can be found 60 to 100 cm below the snow surface.
A weak layer of large, sugary crystals persists at the base of the snowpack. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area, but professionals continue to monitor for signs of it becoming active.
Unsettled and convective weather could bring brief but intense periods of snowfall. Pinpointing these localized events creates a high level of uncertainty with this weather forecast. Prepare to continually evaluate the conditions, and change plans as necessary.
Thursday Night
Mix of clear and cloudy. 2 cm of snow expected. Freezing level at valley bottom. Treeline low around -6°C. Light southwest ridgetop wind.
Friday
Cloudy in the morning, mostly sunny in the afternoon. No new snow expected. Freezing level rising to 1800m. Treeline high around -2°C. Light southwest ridgetop wind, possibly moderate in the high alpine.
Saturday
Mostly sunny. Freezing level at valley bottom overnight, rising to 2200m. Light southwest ridgetop wind, trending to moderate in the high alpine.
Sunday
Partly cloudy. Possible trace of snow in the alpine. Rain below 2000 m. Light southwest ridgetop wind, trending to moderate in the high alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
