Avalanche Forecast

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

SUNDAY NIGHT: Flurries with 5-10 cm of new snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around -8 C.

MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries spreading northward into the afternoon bring up to 10 cm of new snow in the south and less in the north, 50-70 km/h wind from the southwest, freezing level climbs to 1000 m with alpine high temperatures around -5 C.

TUESDAY: Scattered flurries with 5-10 cm of new snow, 50-80 km/h wind from the southwest, freezing level around 800 m in the north and up to 1200 m in the south, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.

WEDNESDAY: 5-10 mm of precipitation with freezing level climbing to 1200 m, 50-80 km/h wind from the southwest.

As the week progresses expect new snow to form storm slab or wind slab avalanche problems, however it looks like it will take a few days before these conditions develop.

No recent avalanches have been reported, but field observations are very limited right now. Possible locations where avalanches could currently be triggered include near ridgetops and on slopes where the wind has deposited blowing snow. Early season avalanches can most easily release in areas where the underlying ground is smooth such as on glaciers, rock slabs, scree, or grassy slopes.

The snowpack remains quite thin throughout the region, with less than 50 cm in the alpine and upper treeline elevations. Pockets of hard wind slab may be found in the high alpine above a crust. In some places this crust has been exposed by the wind. Near treeline, the most recent storm snow sits over previously bare ground. If you're one of the very keen early season adventurers out and about in the mountains right now, watch out for hidden obstacles like stumps, logs, and rocks.