Stormy conditions continue, which warrants conservative terrain travel.
Substantial snow accumulation has formed storm slabs that could be triggered by riders. Dial back your terrain choices to give the snow time to settle and bond to the snowpack.
Rain at lower elevations will increase the likelihood of wet loose activity. The most problematic elevations are likely near the freezing level, where snow accumulates and is then soaked by rain.
Recent storm snow was reactive to human traffic during Tuesday's stormy weather (e.g., as seen here). We also suspect that a natural avalanche cycle may have occurred out of steep terrain features.
Looking to Wednesday, we expect that natural avalanche activity will subside but that riders could trigger similar avalanches as the storm continues.
The region has seen upwards of 100 cm of snow since the weekend, with another 20 to 30 cm forecast by Wednesday afternoon. All of this snow overlies a hard melt-freeze crust up to at least 1000 m and to ridgetop on sun-exposed slopes and perhaps small surface hoar crystals on shaded slopes sheltered from the wind.
The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.
Cornices are large and looming and continue to grow during this stormy weather.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 to 40 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -3 °C, freezing level 800 m.
Wednesday
Cloudy with snowfall and late-afternoon clearing, accumulation 15 to 30 cm, 20 to 30 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -2 °C, freezing level 1000 m.
ThursdayMix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, accumulation 2 to 5 cm, 10 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperature -1 °C, freezing level 1100 m.
FridayCloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 20 to 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 0 °C, freezing level 1200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
