Freezing levels remain elevated tonight and through the day Thursday. Watch for signs of instability increasing as warm temperatures persist especially in areas where solar input is causing rapid change to the snow surface.
40 -50 cm of snow sits above a thick crust. With freezing levels well into the alpine, brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches cycle on surface layers. A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
No new avalanches have been reported in this region since Jan 21. Please continue to post your reports and photos to the Mountain Information Network, the information is very helpful to forecasters.
10-20 cm of snow is becoming moist from elevated freezing levels. Below 1300 m moist snow sits above a thin melt-freeze crust. 50 cm of settling snow sits over a hard crust at higher elevations. Below 700 m surface is a hard crust.
The mid and lower snowpack is well-settled and consolidated.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy with clear periods. Northwesterly ridge top winds 15 km/h. 1500m temperature low of 0C. The above-freezing layer remains from 1500 - 2500 m tonight.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Moderate northwesterly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting to 50 km/h. 1500m temperature high of 0C. The above freezing layer between 1500 - 2500 m dissipates in the afternoon and freezing levels fall to 1000 m overnight.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud. Light westerly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting to 25 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -2C. Freezing levels drop to 800 m.
Saturday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Light northeasterly ridgetop winds occasionally gusting to 30 km/h. 1500m temperature high of -5C. Freezing levels drop to 500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
