Heightened avalanche conditions caused by high freezing levels and clear sunny skies.
Use extra caution in steep, solar-facing terrain and be aware of overhead hazards like cornices.
Cornices have been growing large and are overhanging due to the recent moderate wind and warm temperatures. They are likely to be sensitive to triggering as the temperatures rise and the sun beats down.
Wet avalanches remain possible with the addition of solar influence combined with elevated freezing levels. This problem will likely be more pronounced on solar facing slopes where precipitation fell as snow at upper elevations.
Several wet loose avalanches were reported over the weekend, involving the most recent storm snow over the robust crust.
We expect wet loose avalanche activity to continue with sunny skies in the forecast.
Up to 30 cm of heavy, moist snow has accumulated above 1700 m. At treeline and below the upper snowpack is saturated.
Below this, a variable (robust to breakable) crust sits over a facet layer at treeline and above. In sheltered features a surface hoar layer may have survived the recent warm temperatures and rain.
The mid/lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
Snowpack depth ranges between 100 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 1 to 2 mm of rain at treeline. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Wednesday
Sunny. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.
Friday
Mostly sunny. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
