There is uncertainty with forecast precipitation amounts Saturday night through Sunday. If snowfall amounts materialize as forecast, then the avalanche danger will certainly be High.
The forecast calls for heavy snowfall combined with moderate to strong southwest wind Saturday night through Sunday. This will promote storm slab formation at upper elevations.
The freezing level is forecast to fluctuate between 1000 and 1400 m during the storm. As a result, expect to see the surface snow sluff in steep terrain at lower elevations where it will likely rain.
SATURDAY Night: Snow or rain, accumulation 15-25 cm, moderate to strong west and southwest wind, freezing level rising to 1400 m with treeline temperature near 0 C.
SUNDAY: Snow or rain, accumulation 15-25 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing level 1100 m with treeline temperatures around -1 C.
MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate northwest wind, freezing level around 700 m with treeline temperatures -3 C.
TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwest wind, freezing level around 1000 m with treeline temperatures -1 C.
There have been no reports avalanche activity in the past few days. Strom slab and wet loose avalanche activity is expected to increase in the coming days with the arrival of new snow, rain and moderate to strong wind.
A mix of rain and snow on Saturday night and Sunday may bring 30-50 cm of new snow to upper elevations. Forecast moderate to strong winds will redistribute this new snow. It will on 30-50 cm of snow that fell through the previous week. Rain at lower elevations may make the upper snowpack wet or moist as the freezing level hovers between 1200 and 1400 m through the storm. Along ridgelines, cornices are large and always have the potential of failing or being triggered from the weight of a human.
