Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

The weather is doing a shift from a fairly active pattern to a more benign pattern through the forecast period. A cooler, dryer NW flow will be entering the mountains with patches of lower level clouds and sunny periods in the alpine. Freezing levels will stay near valley bottom, rising to 1200 m in the afternoons. Ridgetop winds will generally be light from the NW, switching to a Westerly flow on Tuesday.

A report of a widespread cycle has occurred during the recent storm. Natural avalanches up to 2.5 ran on all aspects with good propagation. Slab depths were 40-60 cm deep and mainly confined to N- NE aspects on alpine slopes. Natural activity is likely over now, but I'm still concerned that human triggers will be a factor over the next couple days.

Recent storm snow accumulations across the region vary from 25-50 cm. Storm slabs and wind slabs have formed and add additional load to the snowpack. This has put significant stress on the persistent weak layers below. A buried surface hoar layer has been reported. Not sure how wide spread it is across the region, but the average depth is down 60 cm and found in specific, sheltered locations. Below this (down 80-110 cm) sits the early November crust. Tests have been showing easy to moderate SP (sudden planar) pops on weak facetted crystals at this crust interface, or within the crust sandwich.The snowpack depth in the alpine ranges from 130-225 cm. Treeline near 150 cm. A sharp transition exists below treeline, where the snowpack peters out around 1300 m.