Avalanche Forecast

Wednesday night: Decreasing cloud, moderate west wind, alpine temperature -16 C.

Thursday: Increasing cloud, isolated flurries with trace accumulations, light west wind, alpine high temperature -10 C.

Friday: Cloudy, 5-15 cm of snow, moderate south wind, alpine high temperature -10 C.

Saturday: Cloudy, 10-20 cm of snow, light south wind, alpine high temperature -9 C. 

A widespread avalanche cycle occurred overnight and into Wednesday. Numerous large (size 2-2.5) and very large (size 3-3.5) avalanches released from natural, human, and explosive triggers in the storm snow. 

Prior to the storm, there were many reports of large (size 2-2.5) avalanches from both natural and human triggers releasing on surface hoar layers formed in late December across aspects and elevations. These avalanches were breaking 60-90 cm deep. Several of them were remote-triggered.

As the new snow settles, storm slab avalanches have the potential to step-down to these deeper layers, forming very large and destructive avalanches.

The most recent storm delivered 40-70 cm of new snow across the region with moderate to strong southwest winds. Expect storm slabs to be especially touchy in lee terrain features where southwest winds have been drifting new snow into stiffer, more reactive slabs.

Two layers of surface hoar from late December are now buried 80-140 cm deep. These layers continue to produce large to very large avalanches across aspects and elevations with continued loading from snow and wind.

Snowpack depths at tree line now range from 180-280cm, with a well settled mid and lower snowpack.

• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
• If triggered, storm slabs in-motion may step down to deeper layers and result in very large avalanches.