6 AM Update: Check how well the fresh snow is sticking to the old surface.
Avalanche danger will increase as storm snow piles up, and snowfall amounts could vary across the forecast area.
Recent snow may not be bonding well to a widespread, firm crust, or weak, feathery surface hoar and sugary facets on north facing slopes. Deeper deposits may be found in lee terrain features near ridges.
Rain and elevated freezing levels could make wet loose avalanches possible.
No new avalanches have been reported but information is limited.
Please consider submitting your observations to the MIN if you head to the backcountry.
By the end of of the day on Tuesday, above 1500 m, 20-30 cm of new snow should be covering another 20 cm of soft, settling snow. Below that, surface hoar crystals overlie faceted or wind-affected snow on northerly alpine terrain or a hard melt-freeze crust elsewhere.
Below 1500 m, expect a moist or wet snow surface due to rain.
A widespread crust that formed in early February is buried anywhere from 50 to 120 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of faceted grains above it that are slowly strengthening. This layer is currently dormant.
Monday Night
Cloudy. Light rain expected. 2-5 cm of snow above 1500 m. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind, possibly strong in the north end of the forecast area. Treeline temperature around 1 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy. Moderate rain expected, 15-25 cm of snow above 1500 m. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind, possibly strong in the north end of the forecast area. Treeline temperature around 1 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate precipitation continues as the freezing level drops to valley bottom. It could add up to 10-15 cm of snow at high elevations. Light to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
