Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Early Monday morning, explosives triggered several size 1.5.-2 storm slab avalanches.

Over the weekend, reactive storm snow produced natural, rider-triggered, and explosive-triggered slab avalanches to size 2, and dry-loose avalanches to size 1 in steep terrain. Most of these avalanches failed about 20-50 cm deep within the storm snow, however, one avalanche was reported stepping down to the December 24 crust.

20-40 cm of recent storm snow buried surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes at treeline and above. At lower elevations, a crust covers surfaces.

Below recent storm snow, another 20-50 cm of settled snow covers the December 24 melt-freeze crust that is thin or absent in alpine terrain but thicker and more widespread at treeline and below.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-bonded and consolidated, with multiple crust layers present.

Monday night

Mostly cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 900 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy. 10 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 300 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C. Freezing level 600 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. 5 to 15 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level 300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.