Avalanche Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow; 10-20 cm / Strong southeast wind / Low of -30

MONDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 5-10 cm / Strong east wind / High of -28

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / High of -30

WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Light northwest wind / High of -28

Over 60 cm of new snow in the pine pass area has formed reactive storm slabs; especially in wind affected terrain.

The Pine Pass area received over 60 cm of new snow Saturday night which combined with strong southwest winds to form touchy storm slabs reactive to human triggers.

Much of the rest of the region received 10-20 cm of snow and strong southwesterly winds which formed reactive wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.

A weak layer of feathery surface hoar may be found around 20 to 50 cm deep. It is most likely found in sheltered terrain features in the lower alpine and treeline, or open features below treeline (e.g., cut blocks). We've only received a few reports of this layer, so it may be spotty in the region.

The middle of the snowpack has been reported as well-settled and strong. The base of the snowpack is composed of weak faceted grains, particularly in thin snowpack areas east of the divide, but has not recently been a primary concern.

• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeply buried weak layers resulting in very large avalanches.