With today's high alpine temperature, pay special attention near or below rocky outcrops in the sun.
Weather Forecast
A stagnant ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the weather pattern with no precipitation in the immediate future. A strong temperature inversion keeps low clouds trapped in the valleys while warm temperatures and sun bake the alpine. Expect light ridge top winds from the southwest with alpine temperatures reaching +3 degrees(or warmer!).
Snowpack Summary
Yesterday's sun and temperature inversion affected the surface snow. In the alpine expect to find a crust on solar aspects. Previous south winds have likely created windslabs at ridgetop. Below the inversion line large surface hoar has been growing and the upper snowpack is starting to facet. So far the bond is good at the Nov 26 crust interface.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed on steep solar aspects, especially near rocky outcrops in the last few days. These avalanches have been triggered by warm alpine temps and strong solar.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.