Freezing levels are forecasted to stay near ridgetop until Thurs. Until the snowpack gets locked in by cold temps, natural and human triggered avalanches are likely at all elevation bands.
As I mentioned yesterday, your best and safest option for skiing/riding will be at a ski hill.
Expect loose snow avalanches in steep terrain as freezing levels remain near ridgetop. As these avalanches gather mass, they could potentially step down to deeper layers within the snowpack.
20+cm of sticky Elephant Snot and warm temps have created a heavy, wet slab that is reactive at all elevations on unsupported rolls and cross-loaded features. Avalanches are naturally occurring in this layer and skiing/riding is extremely difficult.
A natural avalanche cycle has continued from yesterday into Monday, with numerous avalanches to sz 4 running within the highway corridor. A remote trigger adjacent to the west end of Glacier NP resulted in a sz 3.5 running from the Alpine to valley bottom.
The same obs have been noted in the backcountry, with numerous wet/loose avalanches to sz 3 observed at all elevations/aspects, gouging deep in confined gullies.
Warmth, new snow, and wind have created widespread wet slabs. Currently these slabs are reactive at all elevations until temps drop later in the week.
A sun crust (Jan 3), down 60-80cm, can be found at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects. The current avalanche cycle is seeing storm slabs stepping down to this layer and deeper within confined gullies.
The Dec 1 surface hoar layer, down ~120cm, is decomposing.
The Pineapple Express on the West Coast has elevated temps for our region and will bring S'ly winds with precip.
Tonight: Rain and wet snow, 15cm, Alpine low 0°C. Gusty Moderate SW winds. Freezing level (FZL) 1900m
Tues: Flurries, trace amounts. High 0°C. Gusty mod/strong S winds. FZL 2000m.
Wed: Sun and cloud, showers. High 3°C. Mod gusty SE winds. FZL 2600m.
Thurs: Cloudy. High 0°C. FZL 1900m.
