Rapidly rising temperatures on Friday could change the hazard rating to high in some locations.
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
A Pacific moisture stream is bringing precipitation into the region today and into Thursday. There will be a brief clearing on Friday with freezing levels going up to 3000m, then more precipitation will arrive in the region on Saturday morning and continue through Sunday and Monday. Ridge top winds are forecast to be moderate to strong from the south-southwest. Freezing levels should hover around 1800m for the next 4 days with the exception of a "heat wave" on Friday that will see the freezing level rise to 3000m.
Avalanche Summary
A few wet snow avalanches have been reported occurring on solar aspects. Cloudy skies may keep the surface from overnight freezing and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches and cornice failures.
Snowpack Summary
A variety of old snow surfaces exists throughout the region. Melt-freeze conditions can be found on solar aspects in the alpine, and on all aspects at lower elevations. On high north-facing terrain, you may find stubborn old wind slabs and some surface facets from cold, clear nights.. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. Cornices , however, may become weak with daytime warming.
Problems
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.