As you transition into wind-affected areas watch for deep, stiff pockets of storm slabs in lees that are more likely to be reactive to human triggering.
Below the freezing line, the potential for wet loose avalanches still exists.
This week's storm brought +15 cm of snow to the highest peaks. Where snow remained dry, southerly winds redistributed new snow into alpine lees. Watch for deeper pockets of storm slab on specific features.
Rain has saturated the snowpack below 1700 m causing the surface to lose cohesion. Below the freezing line, loose wet avalanches remain possible on steep slopes.
On Friday, a natural wet loose and glide slab avalanche cycle was observed from this week's rain event. Several avalanches were reported up to size 2 on all aspects at all elevations.
Please continue to share any observations or photos on the Mountain Information Network.
15-20 cm of storm snow and moderate southerly winds have built storm slabs at higher elevations where snow remained dry. Storm slabs overlie previously wind-affected surfaces on south and east-facing slopes. At treeline and below the snowpack is saturated and refreezing.
The mid-snowpack is well-settled. The lower snowpack consists of several crusts with weak faceted crystals above and below that are beginning to heal and bond to each other.
Snowpack depths are roughly 145 to 185 cm at treeline and taper rapidly below 1500 m.
Saturday Night
Scattered clouds increase through the night. Isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Southeast winds of 25 km/h. Ridgetop low-temperature -1C. Freezing levels fall to 1000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light variable winds gusting 20 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature +1C. Freezing levels 1500 m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 2-5 mm. Light variable winds gusting 30 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature 0C. Freezing levels 1300 m.
The next storm impacts the coast Sunday night. Rain will change to snow, 5-10 mm. Winds remain light. Freezing levels will fall to 1000 m.
Tuesday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Southwesterly winds increase from moderate to strong through the day, gusting 30 km/h. Ridgetop high-temperature 0C. Freezing levels 1000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
