It’s a mixed bag out there. Wet loose and persistent slabs are both possible or even likely.
Assess conditions as you travel and choose conservative terrain when uncertain.
A crust with facets above it has produced several accidental and remotely triggered avalanches. This layer is most likely to be triggered on north and east aspects at upper treeline and in the alpine.
Wet loose avalanches are likely in steep or extreme terrain when the snow surface is wet or slushy.
Several size 1.5 to 2.5 skier and remotely triggered slab avalanches have been reported in the region over the past few days. These avalanches predominantly occurred on north and east aspects in the alpine. They failed on a layer of facets over a crust from mid April. See photos below.
A thin crust may exist early in the morning but it will break down quickly. The snow below is likely wet.
A thick crust, with facets above it, can be found down 10 to 40 cm at treeline and above. Previous wind may have scoured exposed features back to this crust.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong. At low elevations the snowpack is disappearing quickly.
Sunday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.
Monday
Sunny. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3000 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 4 mm of rain at treeline. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
