Use caution in wind-loaded alpine areas where deeper, more cohesive storm slab pockets are found and remain possible to human trigger.
Be alert to changing conditions when daytime heating and direct sun are impacting slopes. Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose avalanches.
Investigate the bond of recent snow to surfaces below. Use caution on steep, wind exposed slopes where new snow is likely to be deeper and more cohesive.
You are most likely to find reactive storm slabs close to the continental divide where snowfall amounts through the last few days were higher.
No new avalanches were reported in the region on Tuesday.
We expect backcountry users will see evidence of a small dry loose avalanche cycle in the alpine from convective flurries through the last few days.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
In the alpine and around treeline, 10-30 cm of recent snow covers a frozen melt freeze crust.
Below treeline, expect to find moist or refrozen surfaces, and a shrinking snowpack that is isothermal during the heat of the day.
The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong, except in areas with snow depths less than 150 cm. In these lower snow areas, the mid-pack is likely weaker and more faceted.
The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. This layer has shown signs of gaining strength, and it has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area.
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-5 cm accumulation. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels lower to 1200 m. Treeline low around -5 °C.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise to 1800 m. Treeline high around -1 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulations. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise from valley bottom to 1800 m by mid-day. Treeline high -1 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulations. Light west ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise from valley bottom to 2000 m by mid-day. Treeline high 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
