Although a supportive surface crust reduces the likelihood of triggering an avalanche, use caution at higher elevations where the crust may be thinner, weaker, or absent.
Storm slab avalanches remain possible in areas where the surface crust is unsupportive (does not hold your weight) or no surface crust exists.
A widespread avalanche cycle took place on Tuesday and Wednesday on all aspects and elevation bands. Avalanches have ranged from size 1 to 3, with some larger ones failing up to 100 cm deep.
With cooling temperatures and a crust likely to form in most areas, the likelihood of avalanches will dramatically decrease.
The upper snowpack has been extensively rain-soaked by the recent warm, wet storm. By Friday morning, a widespread surface crust is expected, while pockets of dry, loose snow could persist in high alpine terrain.
The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled and well-bonded, sitting above a thick melt-freeze crust that comprises most of the lower snowpack.
Snowpack depths at treeline range from 80 to 150 cm and thin rapidly at lower elevations. In many areas, especially below treeline, slopes lack enough snow to cover ground roughness and produce avalanches.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.
Friday
Cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 15 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
