There is a gradual cooling trend in the forecast as the freezing level starts to drop. Continue to watch for sluffing on steep slopes facing the sun with the afternoon warming.
Loose wet sluffing is most likely to occur in steep sunny terrain, especially as the day warms and sunshine intensifies.
On Monday there was a report of a size 2 remotely triggered (from a distance) wet slab avalanche at 2100 m on a southwest aspect with a crown 30-100 cm deep. This was reported to have happened at peak warming in the afternoon in a thin spot stepping down to a crust buried in mid-December.
With a cooling trend, minimal avalanche activity is expected, as long as the hard surface crust remains intact.
Many areas have rain runnels on the surface. A thick surface crust caps the snowpack. This crust may break down during daytime warming and direct solar input.
In many areas, a new layer of surface hoar is growing on the surface.
Otherwise, the snowpack is well settled and consolidated, with no current layers of concern. Total snowpack height generally varies between 150 and 250 cm at treeline.
Tuesday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1500 m with an above freezing layer from 1800 to 2500 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 5-15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. 10-20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 300 m.
Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
