Warm air and sunny skies should prevail at higher elevations. The amount of warming and its influence on the snowpack is uncertain. Observe for signs of snowpack warming, travel conservatively, and expect rapid changes to the snowpack over the day.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear skies, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1800 m and 2300 m.MONDAY: Clear skies, light southwest winds, alpine temperature -1 C, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1800 m and 2200 m.TUESDAY: Clear skies, light southwest winds, alpine temperature 0 C, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1800 m and 2400 m.WEDNESDAY: Clear skies, light southwest winds, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level below valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed on Saturday. On Friday, a couple small wind slabs and storm slabs were triggered naturally and by skiers. They were mostly in alpine terrain and 20 to 50 cm deep.
Snowpack Summary
Warm air temperatures and sunny skies at higher elevations may impact the snow surface. You may find dry or moist snow, depending on how warm it gets. On south aspects, you will likely find loose and moist snow during the day and a sun crust at night. Also expect to find a surface crust on all aspects below 1500 m. Wind slabs are still being reported as widespread in alpine terrain. The warming may make these slabs easier to trigger.There are a few deeper weaknesses in the snowpack. Professionals are still tracking a layer around 150 to 200 cm deep, composed of sugary faceted grains, feathery surface hoar, and a sun crust. The base of the snowpack may also still be composed of weak faceted grains in parts of the region. The likelihood of triggering these layers may increase with the warm air incoming this weekend. These layers would most likely be triggered by humans in areas where the snowpack is shallow.
Problems
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.