Warm temperatures and sun will weaken the snowpack, making weak layers easier to trigger.
Use extra caution during the warmest parts of the day.
A weak layer of consisting of a crust and/or facets is buried 30 to 60 cm. Recent avalanches on this layer indicate it remains poorly bonded.
Wet loose avalanches will become more likely as daytime warming and sun melt the upper snowpack.
Earlier this week, explosive control in different parts of the region produced several small to large (up to size 2) avalanches in east and southeast-facing alpine and treeline terrain. Some were small wind slabs but the larger avalanches failed on a persistent weak layer of facets over a crust up to 60 cm deep.
A melt-freeze crust or moist snow likely makes up the surface on all but high-elevation north aspects. High overnight freezing levels mean crust recovery may be weak. This overlies 30 to 60 cm of recent storm snow that sits over a crust in many areas or surface hoar / facets in some wind-sheltered areas. A weak layer buried in late January consisting of surface hoar and facets or a crust, is buried 50 to 90 cm and remains a lingering concern. Below this, the mid and lower snowpack is generally settled and strong.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear with some valley cloud. 5 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. with an alpine temperature inversion. Freezing level 2500 m.
Sunday
Increasing cloud cover, lingering valley cloud. 10 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with an alpine temperature inversion. Freezing level 2000 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 5 to 15 hm/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 30 hm/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
