A mixture of snow and rain continues to bury a layer of surface hoar.
Seek out low-consequence terrain and monitor how new snow is bonding with old surfaces.
Recent snow may have formed storm stabs on top of potentially weak layers. Expect human and even naturally triggered avalanches. Mixture of snow and rain could increase this reactivity.
Snow mixed with rain will put a heavy burden on the snow pack making wet loose avalanches likely.
There have been very few observations in our area. Expect avalanche activity to increase. To the area to the south of us there have been several size one natural and skier-triggered avalanches in recent days. Many of these were remotely triggered. These avalanches were at treeline and on all aspects.
As more snow falls and the slab stiffens, we expect the size of avalanches to increase.
Another 10 to 20 cm of new snow and rain will be added to the up to 40 cm of new snow from this past weekend. This has buried a layer of large surface hoar. On steep south-facing slopes this surface hoar may have developed on top of a sun crust. Expect to find wind slabs at higher elevations.
The mid-pack is generally unconsolidated. A crust with sugary facets beneath it can be found just above the ground.
The snowpack is still shallow for this time of year. Average snowpack depth at treeline range from 65 to 85 cm.
Monday Night
Cloudy, 10 to 20 cm accumulation of wet snow with highest amounts in the south, alpine winds southerly 50 to 60 km/h, treeline temperatures -2 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, 5 to 15 cm accumulation in some areas, alpine winds southwest 35 to 45 km/h, freezing level around 2000 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with some sun in the north, up to 2 to 5 cm accumulation, alpine winds southwest 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperatures back down to -5 °C.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud, trace accumulation, alpine winds southerly 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperatures -7 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
