Get ready for a warm weekend. A rapidly warming snowpack can quickly lose strength and produce loose-wet avalanches. With warm alpine temperatures, be suspect of steep alpine slopes and cornices.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods. Moderate southeast wind. Freezing level rising to 2400 m.SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light to moderate southeast wind. Freezing level 2400 m.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light southeast wind with moderate-strong gusts. Freezing level rising above 2500 m.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Light southeast wind. Freezing level above 2500 m.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
On Friday, loose wet avalanches released naturally below 1200 m. Skiers were able to trigger loose wet avalanches which ran on an ice layer down 15-20 cm.This region has had limited observations. Please submit any observations you have to the Mountain Information Network here.
Snowpack Summary
Below 1600 m, the snowpack is settled. Above 1700 m, recent snow has been redistributed by wind and formed cornices. Rising freezing levels are warming any dry snow left in the alpine.At alpine and treeline elevations in the north of the region, 70-100 cm recent storm snow is settling. Recent snowpack tests around treeline indicated some storm snow instabilities. Below the recent storm snow, a melt freeze crust exists, with associated facets (sugar snow) in some areas. Further south on the North Shore mountains, around 5-30 cm saturated snow overlies a crust with a good bond.
Problems
Loose Wet
Rising freezing levels will warm dry snow at high elevations. At the snowpack warms, loose wet avalanches are a concern.
Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up. Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Recent snow and wind have built cornices which will weaken with rapid warming.
Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on ridges.Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Jan 12th, 2019 2:00PM
