Warm temperatures and sun are forecast for the alpine on Saturday 😎
Avoid slopes with cornices overhead, and limit exposure to slopes that become moist or wet.
Large, looming cornices may become weak with sun and warm temperatures.
It may be possible to find pockets of triggerable wind slab in leeward features in the high alpine where snow remains dry.
A crust/facet layer 50 to 170 cm deep may be triggered with large loads, like a cornice fall. It's uncertain if this layer is still active but something to watch with rising temperatures in the alpine this weekend.
No new avalanches reported. We suspect natural avalanche activity occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday due to high freezing levels and rain.
A widespread melt-freeze crust extends up to at least 2200 m. In the high alpine, any dry snow is likely wind affected and firm. Sun and warm temperatures on Saturday are likely to moisten dry snow and soften crusts, especially on steep south-facing slopes. Large, overhanging cornices linger.
The prominent mid-December facet/crust layer is buried 50 to 170 cm deep. Triggering the crust is considered unlikely, except with large loads or in thin snowpack areas.
In thin snowpack areas, faceted grains or depth hoar may exist at the base of the snowpack. Snowpack depths are well above average for this time of year, around 2 m at treeline.
Friday Night
Clear skies. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Above freezing layer 1800 to 3000 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Alpine high temperature 5°C. Freezing level 3500 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 50 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Above freezing layer 2000 to 3000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
