Inverted temperatures will mean that it will feel cold in the valley, while upper elevation start zones may be undergoing a rapid temperature increase. Ice climbers should avoid climbs below solar facing slopes.
Weather Forecast
The big story over the next few days is the spike in temperatures, especially up in the alpine. As a new warm and moist airmass slides in, this will introduce a rapid temperature change to a cold snowpack. Strong NW winds in the alpine and the possibility of rain below treeline. Possibility of intense solar radiation and inverted temperatures.
Snowpack Summary
Snowpack remains thin and facetted at lower elevations. Last week's storm snow has buried a surface hoar layer (Jan6) down approx 30cm. New windslabs at upper elevations that were previously stubborn to trigger may quickly become touchier as they undergo a rapid temperature change and increased loading with strong winds.
Avalanche Summary
Tuesday's warm temps will introduce rapid temperature change to a cold snowpack and may lead to a natural cycle and/or touchy slab conditions, as well as increased loose snow avalanches from steep solar aspects.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Loose Dry
Loose Dry avalanches are the release of dry unconsolidated snow and typically occur within layers of soft snow near the surface of the snowpack. These avalanches start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-dry avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs.