High freezing levels and potential rain are keeping the danger elevated.
Avoid overhead exposure to cornices and steep slopes, especially when the snow surface is wet.
Cornices are large and fragile at this time of year. With more warm temperatures and rain in the forecast, we may see cornices continue to fail.
Warm overnight tempertaures and potential rain are expected to melt the surface crust creating the potential for wet loose avalanches. Avoid exposure to overhead hazards where the snow surface is wet.
A cornice fall triggered a subsequent size 2 wind slab on a north-facing alpine slope on Saturday.
A few small (size 1) wet loose avalanches were reported on Wednesday, triggered by skiers on sun-exposed slopes.
Cornices are big and fragile this time of year. With continued high freezing levels and potential rain in the forecast, we may see some cornice failures or wet loose activity on Sunday.
Up to 15 mm of rain may fall below 2200 m overnight and through Sunday. The highest amounts will be in the south, with little to no rain forecast for northerly regions.
Soft, dry or wind-pressed snow can still be found on shady northerly through easterly slopes above 2500 m.
All other slopes will have a melt-freeze crust right to mountaintop, which may soften and melt with warming or rain, creating the potential for wet loose sluffing.
At lower elevations, warm overnight temperatures may prevent a refreeze, resulting in wet surface snow.
Crusts from late March are buried 20 to 80 cm deep, elevation and aspect dependent.
The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong with no additional layers of concern.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy. 0 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level around 2300 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 10 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Monday
Partly cloudy. 3 to 10 mm of rain at treeline. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level around 2200 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
