Rapidly rising temperatures, snow flurries transitioning to rain showers at upper elevations and strong to extreme SW winds should make for dismal riding conditions, but if you do head into the backcountry it's time to avoid all avalanche terrain.
Confidence
Low - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Tuesday morning delivers a strong warm front that is expected to push the freezing level as high as 2500m. This warm and moist subtropical air should also deliver a bit of precipitation. The rain/snow line is expected to start near 1500m and then steadily rise through the day. TUESDAY: 1 to 4mm of precipitation expected. Freezing level starting at 1500m, rising to 2500m. Strong to extreme SW winds expected. TUESDAY NIGHT: 5 to 15mm of precipitation, freezing level holding at 2500m. WEDNESDAY: 2 to 10cm of snow. Freezing level lowering to 1500m. Strong to extreme W/SW winds. THURSDAY: Trace of snow. Freezing level beginning near 1000m, rising to 1500m. Moderate to Strong W/SW winds.
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. If you are out in the mountains, please post your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Conditions are looking pretty lean in the South Rockies at the moment. Around 30 cm of snow has fallen in the last week accompanied by strong SW winds. Below the new snow you'll find the old surface which consists of crust above treeline and a combination of loose faceted snow/surface hoar at and below treeline. Total snow depth above treeline is between 100 and 150cm. Below treeline depths reportedly drop off quickly. Several rain crust layers exist within the snowpack; the late-November crust is 10 to 25cm below the surface and the mid-November crust should be 30 to 60cm below the surface. Snowpack tests have shown easy shears failing in a facet layer below the mid-November crust. We're receiving very little information from the region, so please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.