High freezing levels and clear skies are creating heightened avalanche danger on steep slopes.
Back off steep slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet, and be aware of overhead hazards.
Wind slabs are likely to be isolated to direct north facing slopes at upper elevations. Cross loaded features and terrain directly lee of high points and ridges are possible hold outs where triggering this problem is more likely.
Last weeks storm snow continues to produce small avalanches down 20 to 30 cm deep. Warm temperatures and clear skies will impact the upper snowpack resulting in small wet loose avalanches in many areas.
No new avalanche activity reported.
Freezing levels up to 3000 m are forecast for today with clear skies. Natural wet loose avalanches are expected, and more reactive on steep open terrain features exposed to the sun.
Moist surface snow overlies settling, wind-affected storm snow from last week.
In some areas, a temperature crust formed on Christmas Eve can be found 20–30 cm below the surface.
A softer layer of snow may be preserved between the moist surface snow and the 130 cm mid to lower snowpack, which rests on the December 16 melt-freeze crust.
Monday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and clouds. Isolated precipitation, 1 to 2 cm above 2200 m. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
