Avalanche Forecast

High -

TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 2-8 cm. Ridge wind light, north. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1000 m.FRIDAY: Cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation 2-4 cm. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind light, northeast. Alpine Temperature near -4. Freezing level 1500 m.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday there were reports of several natural, loose, wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on south aspects at all elevations, as well as a skier triggered wind slab (size 1) on a northeast aspect at 2300 m.On Tuesday there were two size 1.5 skier triggered wind slab avalanches reported on north and northwest aspects in the alpine. Reports from the past several days primarily included wet loose avalanches to size 2 in steeper terrain on sunny aspects.

The main story has been the sun's effect on south and west facing slopes over the past several days. Daytime heating has resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects and then freezing to form a crust overnight. High elevation northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, a cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.