Keep terrain selection conservative as storm snow accumulates, expect the new snow to bond poorly to old snow surfaces.
Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure to overhead hazard during peak snowfall.
Large and reactive storm slabs will build overnight and into Sunday. Expect deeper deposits in wind affected areas - around ridgelines and on easterly facing slopes.
SATURDAY NIGHT: 10-15 cm by morning. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom. Winds ease to moderate from the east.
SUNDAY: Snowfall continues with another 10-20 cm of snow possible over the day, light northeast winds. Freezing levels at valley bottom. Alpine high of -20.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny, moderate wind from the northeast. Freezing levels below valley bottom, alpine high of -20. Chance of isolated flurries.
TUESDAY: Mostly clear, moderate northeast winds. Freezing levels below valley bottom. Alpine high of -20.
Avalanche activity over the past few days has been limited to small slabs and loose avalanches in steep alpine terrain.
With the incoming storm we expect to see natural and human triggered avalanche activity increase.
Up to 40 cm of new snow by Sunday afternoon will form reactive storm slabs at all elevations. The storm snow will bury a melt freeze crust on solar aspects at all elevations, and wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain.
A buried surface hoar layer can be found 30-60 cm deep on north-facing slopes around treeline. This layer has been reactive in snowpack tests, and new snow is expected to increase the likelihood of triggering this layer.
The snowpack below is well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer found near the bottom of the snowpack. It is currently considered dormant, but could become active later this season. Check out the forecaster blog for more information.
