More likely on the Rockies side of the forecast area. Several wind stations aren't reporting, so the extent of wind transport is uncertain. Watch out for reactive windslabs in leeward terrain features such as ridgecrests and roll-overs.
On Saturday, avalanche control produced several small to large avalanches (up to size 2). The general trend was storm slab avalanches to the west, and wind slab avalanches to the east.
A widespread natural avalanche cycle was observed during the storm towards the end of the week, producing loose wet and storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5.
Recent moderate to strong southwest winds have likely redistributed surface snow into deeper, more reactive pockets in leeward terrain features. In some areas, you may also find a thin, frozen crust on the surface.
40-60 cm of recent snow seems to be bonding well to the wet or frozen surface left behind by recent, heavy rain. A hard melt-freeze crust is forming at this interface, observed up to 5 cm thick in some places.
Beneath the upper crust, the remainder of the rain-moistened snowpack is slowly refreezing as freezing level remains below valley bottom.
Snowpack depths vary across the forecast area. 50 to 120 cm at treeline, tapering rapidly below treeline.
TuesdayHST 40, 40, 60, 52, 50 SS, settled, redistributed by wind.
MFcr 2-5cm, found up to 2200 m. Developing at the interface
Moist snow.
Sunday Night
Cloudy. 0-2 cm of snow expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind tapering off to light and variable by the morning. Treeline temperature around -5°C.
Monday
Cloudy, possible clearing in the late afternoon. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -5 °C.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -4 °C.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1500 m, with a possible above freezing layer at high elevations.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
