Spring is a dynamic time of year where conditions can vary widely and change rapidly. Localized convective snowfall can appear out of nowhere and even short periods of strong sun can rapidly destabilize the upper snowpack.
Carefully assess your local conditions and pay attention to how the weather is affecting the snowpack throughout the day.
10 to 30 cm of recent snow arrived with strong southeast to southwest winds, and likely formed deep deposits in leeward terrain features. Rapid settlement due to strong sun, has potential trigger storm slab avalanches.
Loose wet avalanches will become increasingly likely on steep solar aspects as the surface becomes moist or wet with strong sun.
Reported avalanche activity on Saturday was limited to a small skier-triggered storm slab on a northeast aspect near treeline, despite extensive ski cutting avalanche control work.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
A moist or crusty surface has likely formed on southerly aspects and below 1200 m. 15 to 30 cm of recent snow has likely been blown into deep deposits in leeward terrain features at wind-exposed elevations by previous strong southeast to southwest winds. The recent snow sits over a melt-freeze crust exists on all aspects at treeline and below, and to mountaintop on solar aspects. In north-facing high alpine terrain, snow may remain cold and dry.
The mid and lower snowpack consists of a number of old crusts and facetted snow that continue to be monitored, particularly in shallow snowpack areas.
Sunday night
Flurries bringing around 5 cm. Light northwest wind. Alpine low -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday
Mostly sunny. Light northwest wind. Alpine high 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 1200 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. Light variable wind. Alpine high 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 1200 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. Light southwest wind. Alpine high 0 °C. Freezing level rises to 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
