Avoid steep alpine rocky and wind-loaded areas, where triggering slabs is most likely.
Recent snow accompanied by southerly winds have built potentially reactive wind slabs on lee slopes in the alpine.
Wet loose avalanches may be possible where precipitation falls as rain at lower elevations.
A weak layer from January consisting of a melt-freeze crust with facets is buried 90 to 150 cm. This layer is most concerning in the south and east parts of the region in shallower snowpack areas.
Reports have been very limited in this region. No avalanches have been reported since Tuesday, when a size 3.5 persistent slab was observed on a north alpine face that likely failed last weekend. Several loose wet avalanches on sunny slopes were also observed in this MIN post.
Looking forward: New snow and wind in the alpine may have built isolated, but reactive wind slabs on leeward (north though east) facing slopes.
Please consider sharing your observations to the MIN.
Recent rain and warming saturated the upper snowpack forming wet snow or a crust on all aspects and elevations, except high north-facing alpine slopes. Up to 15 cm of new snow may now cover this old surface at treeline and above. Below 1800 m, the snowpack has shrunk considerably. A persistent weak layer of facets and surface hoar from February is now 90 to 150 cm deep, and a layer of facets and surface hoar from late January is buried 110 to 190 cm. These layers remain a concern, especially in the south and eastern parts of the region where the overall snowpack is shallower. Otherwise, the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.
Friday Night
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow above 1200 m, potential rain below. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600m, dropping to 1000 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1300 m, potential rain below. 15 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Mondayday
Cloudy, with 5 to 10 cm of snow above 1100 m, potential rain below. 15 to 30 km/h variable ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
