Northwest Coastal

Continue to practice safe travel habits in the mountains, including questioning high-consequence terrain.

Avalanche activity over the weekend was limited to small (size 1) wet loose activity out of steep sun-exposed slopes and isolated wind slabs in wind-exposed terrain at high elevations.

Looking forward, we expect avalanche activity to be unlikely with cool and relatively calm weather.

The snow surface is heavily wind affected in terrain exposed to the wind. Wind-sheltered terrain consists of 10 to 30 cm of settled dry snow, which overlies a melt-freeze crust below approximately 1700 m. The crust is at the snow surface at lower elevations.

The middle of the snowpack may contain old, weak faceted layers and hard crusts, which are currently dormant.

Monday Night

Clear skies with no precipitation, southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -8 °C.

Tuesday

Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm snow, southwest alpine wind 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm snow, north alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, southwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.