Winter is returning. Be ready to dial back your terrain selection if we exceed forecast snow totals or if you encounter early signs of instability.
Forecast snowfall will begin to form small new wind slabs through Saturday. Older, more stubborn slabs likely already exist in high alpine locations.
No recent avalanches have been observed in this region, but conditions have been changing in high alpine locations without observations as yet.
Conditions should take a more decisive move toward more widespread surface instabilities as new snow stacks up, especially where wind works to accelerate slab formation.
Up to about 10 cm of new snow should accumulate in the region Friday night through Saturday.
In most areas with snow coverage, the new snow will bury rain-saturated and/or sun-affected surface snow which should be topped by crust by the time snow arrives. In a few high alpine locations, new snow may add to dry recent snow accumulations.
Aside from existing surface instabilities in these high alpine locations, and those emerging with forecast new snow, the snowpack is well consolidated, homogenous, and predominantly moist. Conditions remain rugged at lower elevations.
Friday night
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 40 km/h west or southwest alpine wind. Freezing level around 1200 - 1300 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with continuing flurries bringing another 5 cm of new snow. 35-45 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with freezing level falling to 1100 m, rising a bit in the evening.
Sunday
Cloudy with heavy snowfall bringing 30 - 40 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 60 - 75 km/h southwest alpine wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level to 1200 m.
Monday
Clearing, lingering flurries with 1 - 2 cm of new snow. 20-30 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -7 with freezing level to 500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
