Cornice failures are possible as high freezing levels and sunny skies continue.
Give large overhanging cornices a wide berth; they have the potential to trigger slopes below.
Large overhanging cornices may trigger naturally, especially as the day warms. Give slopes threatened by cornices a wide berth and keep well back from ridges.
The newly formed surface crust will break down as the day warms. Once the surface turns to mashed potatoes, it is possible to trigger loose wet avalanches.
Many natural and human-triggered (loose-wet, wet slab and cornice-triggered) avalanches up to size 3.5 have occurred over the last few days. Since then, a crust has formed on the surface, and activity has lessened.
It may seem odd to be thinking about cornices in January, but keep them in mind this week. Natural cornice-triggered wet slabs were reported on Tuesday.
A newly formed crust extends up to mountain top on all aspects and elevations. Up to 50 cm of moist snow lies beneath the crust. Below 1700 m, the snowpack is fully saturated.
The mid-December crust is 100 to 200 cm deep and reaches up to 2200 m. It's well-bonded to the snow above. Above 2200 m, a layer of facets and a crust from November is at the base of the snowpack. These layers are not currently a concern.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Friday
Sunny. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
