Up to 40 cm of storm snow overlies a thick hard crust and solar input is likely to trigger avalanches today.
Seek simple terrain and avoid steep sunny slopes.
Recent snow may slide easily on a hard, slick, buried crust until we observe otherwise. Avalanches are expected be larger and more likely on west through north facing (leeward) slopes.
Once the sun comes out , expect wet loose avalanches to begin. Even a small wet loose can be harmful when combined with a terrain trap such as a cliff or ditch.
No new avalanches have been reported.
If you are heading into the backcountry, consider sharing your observations and posting a MIN.
30-50 cm of recent snow is settling above a widespread thick. hard and smooth crust that exists everywhere except the highest alpine terrain. Expect this snow to rapidly become moist and unconsolidated when the sun comes out.
Extreme southwest wind on Tuesday gradually eased to strong and then moderate for Thursday, redistributing the storm snow into leeward terrain, expect slab depths to be deeper there.
Older crust layers, now buried 100 to 200 cm deep, are no longer a concern, and the lower snowpack is generally strong and bonded.
Friday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 10 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
