Warm temperatures and high freezing levels are keeping avalanche hazard elevated.
The snowpack needs time to adjust to this significant warming, avoid travel in avalanche terrain.
Strong wind and precipitation at the beginning of the storm have developed large overhanging cornices that will remain touchy with warm temperatures and sunny breaks.
Natural storm slabs above 2000 m, and wet slabs below will remain possible, human triggered avalanches are likely.
Warm temperatures with the possibility of sunny breaks will keep wet loose avalanche activity possible to human-trigger.
On Monday, a widespread wet slab and wet loose avalanche cycle was reported.
Cornices are reported to be over-hanging and fragile. As the freezing levels rise even further and the sun comes out we expect natural avalanche activity to continue.
Rain and heavy wet snow above 2000 m has saturated the upper snowpack, this overlies last weeks storm snow. This rain-on-snow event is the trigger for numerous wet slab avalanches up to size 2.
With freezing levels forecasted to rise further tomorrow with sunny breaks in the afternoon surface snow will remain moist and reactive.
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.
Monday Night
Cloudy. 15 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 mm of rain at treeline. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
