With today's high alpine temperature, pay special attention near or below rocky outcrops in the sun.
Weather Forecast
A stagnant ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the weather pattern with no precipitation in the immediate future. A strong temperature inversion keeps low clouds trapped in the valleys while warm temperatures and sun bake the alpine. Expect light ridge top winds from the west with alpine temperatures reaching 3.0 degrees.
Snowpack Summary
Yesterday's sun and temperature inversion affected the surface snow. Expect to find a crust on solar aspects and a crust/ moist snow on all aspects around treeline, where yesterday's temperatures reached 6.0 degrees. A 50cm storm slab is bonding well to the November 26 crust. Moderate south winds have likely created new soft slabs near ridge line.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed on steep solar aspects, especially near rocky outcrops.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.