Warm temperatures this weekend will keep avalanche danger elevated. Use extra caution if you're starting your day on moist or wet snow.
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy. The freezing level climbs to 2100-2300 m and winds are light to moderate from the S-SE. SUNDAY: Moderate snow or rain 10-20 cm/mm. The freezing level slowly lowers to 1600-1800 m. Ridge winds could be moderate from the S-SE. MONDAY: Cloudy with light snow. The freezing level is around 1600-1800 m and winds are light to moderate from the SW.
Avalanche Summary
Recent avalanche activity is primarily limited to natural and explosive-triggered cornice falls and small loose wet sluffs from steep sunny terrain. There was a report of a size 1.5 accidentally triggered cornice on Thursday. Some cornice falls have been large (size 3), but have recently only entrained loose snow.
Snowpack Summary
The snow surface consists of a sun crust or moist snow on sun-exposed slopes (depending on the time of day), dry settled powder on shady slopes (cool temperatures have maintained good snow quality), and pockets of fresh wind slab in lee and cross-loaded terrain features near ridge crests. In general, the snowpack is strong and well-settled throughout with no notable persistent weaknesses. Cornices are reported to be large and fragile.
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.