Strong winds, heavy precipitation and significant warming are creating dangerous avalanche conditions.
Choose conservative terrain and avoid overhead hazard.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets overtop is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating larger than expected avalanches.
30 to 60 mm of new snow or rain has fallen in the previous days. Storm slabs will be most reactive in wind-loaded areas.
Freezing levels have risen to at least 1800 m. Wet loose avalanches will be likely as long as the freezing levels remain elevated.
It's been a stormy week with a significant natural avalanche cycle occurring, numerous wet loose avalanches up to size 3 have occurred throughout the region on all aspects and elevations.
With heavy precipitation, strong winds and warming in the forecast, both natural and human-triggered avalanches will be likely.
Strong southwesterly winds and 60-80 mm of precipitation or more will have accumulated by Friday morning, with freezing levels reaching 2000 m or higher . The snow surface will be wet or isothermal below this elevation.
A hard crust with surface hoar or facets that formed on January 26th is buried 40 to 100 cm deep. Storm slabs could step down to this layer, creating large avalanches.
Treeline snow depths throughout the region range from 250 to 450 cm.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Friday
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 5 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Saturday
Cloudy. 10 to 25 mm of rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 900 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
