A gradual cooling and overnight recovery should decrease the likelihood of avalanches.
Uncertainty remains on how quickly the persistent slabs will gain strength.
Cooling temperatures will decrease the likelihood of triggering persistent slabs. Uncertainty remains on how quickly these slabs will gain strength. Meanwhile, keep using caution, especially on shallow rocky alpine terrain.
No new recent avalanches were reported.
Debris from the past widespread avalanche cycle are still visible throughout the region.
If you go into the backcountry, please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
A melt-freeze crust exists on the surface in most areas. The frozen surface may soften throughout the day at lower elevations and south-facing slopes. Dry powder snow can still exist on true north-facing alpine slopes. A weak layer of surface hoar is developing in sheltered areas at treeline. At lower elevations, snowpack was isothermal the last few days.
A layer of weak, faceted crystals over a crust, or surface hoar, remains a lingering concern, buried approximately 40 to 80 cm deep. This layer produced impressive avalanches during the past weekend.
Thursday Night
Clear periods. 10 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level near 1000 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
Saturday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing level 1000 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 40 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2°C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m. Overnight refreeze expected.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
