Rising temps with snow (rain at lower elevations) will prevent a solid overnight crust recovery.
This being said, it will still feel like winter at Treeline and above as temps drop after the passage of precipitation.
Cornices are LARGE and may be sensitive to temperature fluctuations, solar radiation, wind loading or just your mere presence nearby. Take necessary precautions if approaching them to access your line and limit your exposure below them.
New snow, accompanied by gusty winds at ridge-top, will create reactive storm slabs in immediate lee features. Strong gusty winds are forecast through Tues am, which will quickly build slabs.
A minor disturbance passes through tonight, then unsettled conditions for several days.
Tonight: Flurries, 10cm, FZL 800m, gusty strong S winds near the end of the storm
Tues: Scattered flurries, 5cm, Alp high -6*C, FZL 1400m, light to strong gusty W winds
Wed: Sun and cloud, trace snow, Alp high -3*C, FZL 1800m, light SE winds
Incoming snow (rain below 1400m) will bury a supportive crust (5-20cm thick, up to ~2200m) or variable soft to hard wind slab in the Alpine. Where it rains, expect a soft surface and near isothermal conditions when the surface crust thaws. There are isolated pockets of soft, preserved powder on N'ly aspects high in the Alpine...continue hunting!
Natural activity has been minimal this past week. Be wary of cornices, limit your exposure below them and use extreme caution if approaching them from the ridge.
On Wednesday there was a size 3 skier triggered (on belay) cornice fall off of Mt Bonney. Last Monday, there was a close call when a small wind slab nearly took a skier into a crevasse!
