New snow will be falling on a crust that extends to the mountain top in many places.
Check the bond between new snow and the crust before committing yourself to avalanche terrain.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating larger than expected avalanches.
50 to 80 mm of new snow or rain has fallen in the previous days. Storm slabs will be most reactive in wind-loaded areas.
Below treeline elevations have seen above-freezing temperatures for multiple days. Until below-zero temperatures return, wet loose avalanches will be possible.
It's been a stormy week with a significant natural avalanche cycle occurring, numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 3 have occurred throughout the region on all aspects and elevations.
Strong southwesterly winds and 80-100 mm of precipitation or more will have accumulated by Saturday morning, with freezing levels reaching 2000 m or higher. The snow surface will be wet or isothermal below this elevation.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets that formed on January 26th is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches.
Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.
Friday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 20 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300-1600 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1300-1500 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
