Warming at higher elevations is expected, but how warm is uncertain. Best to use cautious route-selection, observe for signs of snowpack warming, and manage your adventure expecting rapid changes to the snowpack over the day.
Confidence
Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1500 m and 2000 m.SATURDAY: Partly cloudy, light southwest winds, alpine temperature near 0 C, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1600 m and 2500 m.SUNDAY: Clear skies, light southwest winds, alpine temperature 1 C, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1600 m and 2500 m.MONDAY: Clear skies, light southwest winds, alpine temperature 1 C, inversion conditions with above-freezing layer between 1800 m and 2200 m.
Avalanche Summary
A few wind and storm slab avalanches were triggered naturally on Thursday within the recent storm snow, 20 to 30 cm deep. They were small to large (size 1 to 2) and were at treeline and alpine elevations.
Snowpack Summary
Warm air temperatures at higher elevations may impact the snow surface. You may find dry snow, moist snow, or possibly a frozen melt-freeze crust, depending on local air temperatures. Wind slabs are still being reported as widespread and reactive to human traffic in alpine terrain. Below around 1500 m, the snow surface is moist from recent light rain, which will freeze into a crust when temperatures cool.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.