Watch for blowing snow forming wind slabs in Alpine and open treeline terrain.
Scale back your objective if you find signs of instability like shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
Strong southwest wind is likely blowing snow into reactive wind slabs below ridgetops and in cross-loaded gullies. Most concerning in the alpine and wind exposed treeline terrain.
Small, loose avalanches are possible in heavy, moist or wet snow left behind as the freezing level drops and rain switches to snow.
No new avalanches have been reported.
If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network).
Strong winds have likely formed deeper, more reactive deposits on leeward terrain in the alpine and wind exposed treeline. 20 to 40 cm of recent snow sits on a hard, frozen crust except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on old, dense, wind-affected snow.
Below 1500 m, moist surfaces will start to get crusty or covered by snow as the freezing level drops.
A layer of weak faceted snow above a hard crust that formed in early February is buried about 50 to 120 cm deep. This layer is generally getting stronger, and is shielded by crusts above it. It has not produced any recent avalanches.
Tuesday Night
Cloudy, possibly clear in the northern end of the forecast area. Light to moderate rain expected, 10-20 cm of snow possible above 1500 m. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level dropping to between valley bottom and 1000 m.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy. Light to moderate west or southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -5 °C. Freezing level around 1400 m.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -3 °C.
Friday
Sunny. No new snow expected. Light northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
