Watch for isolated pockets of stiff wind slab as you transition into exposed terrain.
A surface crust will make for challenging travel conditions, but generally safe avalanche conditions.
Recent snowfall at upper elevations combined with shifting winds may have deposited wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Wind slabs are expected to become less reactive with recent cold temperatures.
There are no new avalanches to report in the past few days.
New snow at upper elevations from early in the week has accumulated over a variety of old surfaces including wind slabs in the alpine and a breakable freezing rain crust between 1100 m and 1600 m.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled, strong, and consolidated.
Snowpack depths are reaching 250 cm at treeline.
Thursday night
Clear. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -12 °C. Ridge wind northeast 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -9 °C. Ridge wind northwest 10 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
Cloudy with snowfall in the afternoon, 5-10 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -6 °C. Ridge wind south 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level 100 meters.
Sunday
Cloudy with snowfall, heavy at times, 15-25 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest 30-45 km/h. Freezing level 600 meters.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
