A rain-soaked snowpack will continue to create dangerous avalanche conditions and poor riding quality.
Wet loose avalanche activity can be expected from steep terrain. These avalanches could entrain significant mass and gouge to ground in shallow snowpack areas.
Wet slab avalanches could fail on or step down to buried weak layers in the mid and lower snowpack resulting in very large avalanches.
Rain has created a moist or wet upper snowpack at all elevations. A weak surface crust may have formed overnight at upper elevations.
There is a layer of sugary facets that are buried 30-50 cm deep and in some places sits on a crust from December. This layer has been reactive in snowpack tests.
The lower snowpack contains a series of crusts and faceted snow. Expect snow depth at treeline to be 70 to 120 cm.
Observations have been limited, but we suspect a widespread natural avalanche cycle occurred over the past few days as rain impacted the snowpack.
If poor riding quality doesn't deter you on Tuesday, keep in mind that human-triggered avalanches remain likely. Avoid overhead exposure, large natural avalanches have the potential to entrain significant mass and run to valley bottom.
Monday Night
Cloudy with clear periods, no new precipitation. Alpine wind southwest 20 to 70 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 2800 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud, no new precipitation. Alpine wind sotuhwest 20 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature 1 °C, freezing level 2500 m.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods, no new precipitation. Alpine wind wind from the southwest. Treeline temperature 2 °C, freezing level 3000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with sunny periods, no new precipitation. Alpine wind light from the southwest. Treeline temperature 1 °C, freezing level 2500 m
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
