730 AM UPDATE: 40 cm of new snow overnight bumps avalanche danger to HIGH for Friday. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.
20 to 40 cm thick storm slabs may be triggered by riders. Expect the deepest and touchiest slabs at high elevations. Best to give the new snow a bit of time to bond to the snowpack before exposing yourself to consequential avalanche terrain.
A widespread avalanche cycle occurred over the past few days with many large avalanches observed. Storm slabs were observed at higher elevations, which transitioned to primarily loose wet activity on Thursday.
Looking to Friday, new storm slabs are the most likely avalanche problem. Assess for the bond of all the new snow prior to committing yourself in steep terrain.
Around 25 to 50 cm of snow is expected to accumulate by Friday, with the most found at higher elevations. This snow rests on a wet snowpack that will slowly transition to a melt-freeze crust. The extensive rain from earlier this week likely moistened the entire snowpack to ground.
Snowpack depths are approximately 50 to 80 cm at treeline, which rapidly decreases as you lower in elevation.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow, west alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, southwest alpine wind 20 km/h, treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow, 20 to 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
