Large, overhanging cornices are primed for triggering with high freezing levels and sunny skies.
Keep overhead hazards in mind, reduce exposure to slopes threatened by cornices.
Cornices are large and overhanging and remain a concern while warm temperatures and sunny skies persist. Cornice growth may continue during forecasted extreme winds at upper elevations.
Sunny skies and high freezing levels may be the right combination to bring wet loose avalanches back online. These may be more sensitive where snow at upper elevations has not yet been influenced by warming or rain.
On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered wet loose avalanches were reported up to size 1.5. This activity is expected to continue as storm snow is impacted by solar radiation.
In the alpine, strong winds have stripped windward terrain and snow is wind affected in lee terrain features. Below 2000 m a crust has formed over a saturated upper snowpack, that may break down on steep, solar aspects during the day.
An older crust with properties that are aspect and elevation dependent is down roughly 40 cm and combined with facets.
The mid to lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Snowpack depth ranges from 150 to 250 cm at treeline elevations.
Cornices are reported to be large and looming. Be mindful of them overhead and when travelling on ridge tops.
Wednesday Night
Clear skies. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
Thursday
Sunny. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.
Friday
Sunny. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2600 m.
Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
