Strong winds, heavy precipitation and significant warming are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating larger than expected avalanches.
30 to 50 mm of new snow or rain is expected by Thursday. Storm slabs will be most reactive in wind-loaded areas or in areas seeing rain for the first time.
Freezing levels have risen to at least 1800 m. Wet loose avalanches will be likely as long as the freezing levels remain elevated.
It's been a stormy week with a significant natural avalanche cycle occurring, up to size 3. On Sunday, there were reports of size 1.5 to 2.5 slab avalanches.
With heavy precipitation, strong winds and warming in the forecast, both natural and human-triggered avalanches will be likely in the alpine.
Strong southwesterly winds and 60 mm of precipitation or more will have accumulated by Thursday morning, with freezing levels hovering around 1600-1800 m . The snow surface will be wet below this elevation.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets that formed on January 26th is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches. Previous rain events may have neutralized this problem at lower elevations.
Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Thursday
Cloudy. 10 to 15 mm of rain at treeline. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 4 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 15 to 30 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
