Continued snowfalls will keep the danger elevated.
Avoid alpine terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow or wind.
Heavy snowfalls will likely create touchy slabs in steep terrain, especially on wind-loaded slopes. The new snow will require time to settle and stabilize.
No recent avalanche has been reported, but field observations are limited. Natural avalanche activity likely occurred during the storm on Thursday. If you head into the backcountry, please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Thursday, the region received 20-25 cm of new storm snow. Deeper deposits may be found on leeward terrain. This overlies settled snow that covers old, firm, wind-affected or crusty surfaces. In isolated areas, buried surface hoar may be found 50 to 65 cm deep. Below 1500 m, a thick melt-freeze crust is buried 50 to 100 cm deep. The mid-pack is generally strong and bridges the weak crystals at the base of the snowpack.
The average snowpack depth at treeline is around 200 cm.
Thursday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries expected. 40 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -8 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 15 to 20 cm of new snow expected. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -1°C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Saturday
Partly cloudy with no precipitation. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around +1 °C. Freezing level around 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
