Heavy snowfall combined with strong to extreme wind overnight Tuesday will push avalanche danger to high at upper elevations. Give the new snow time to stabilize.
Heavy snowfall combined with wind will likely create widespread and reactive storm slabs at uppermost elevations. Forecast strong to extreme southwest wind Tuesday night has likely created deep deposits in exposed lee terrain.
Rain on snow at lower elevations may create conditions for wet loose avalanches.
Tuesday Night: Heavy snowfall or rain, accumulation 20-40 cm, strong to extreme southwest wind, treeline high temperature 0, freezing level 1100 m.
Wednesday: Mainly cloudy, strong wind easing to moderate southwest, treeline high temperature 0, freezing level 1200 m.
Thursday: Sun and cloud, lightto moderate southwest wind, treeline high temperature 2, freezing level rising to 1500 m.
Friday: Snow or rain, moderate southwest wind, freezing level 900 m.
There are no recent avalanches to report, although I would expect an increase in storm and wind slab avalanche activity at upper elevations overnight Tuesday and very early morning Wednesday. As well, lower elevations may see an increase in wet loose activity in steep terrain below the 1100 m elevation band.
Precipitation arriving Tuesday afternoon and evening was expected to arrive as snow at uppermost elevations. Recent storm totals for the last week at upper elevations are upwards of 200 cm. This snow has likely seen extensive wind effect but we have received no alpine observations. Recent snow may contain and/or sit on a crust. At lower elevations, the previously rain soaked mid to lower snowpack will be dense and refrozen, or still wet below 1000 m.
The remainder of the snowpack is well-settled.
