Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Several Na and human-triggered size 2 avalanches have been reported since Friday. The avalanches are releasing on surface hoar below the storm snow. This MIN from the Pass Lake area is a good example of how touchy this problem is.

Exposed areas are heavily wind-affected. Up to 50 cm of new snow has fallen since Wednesday. The new snow is bonding poorly to old snow surfaces, which include a melt-freeze crust on sun-exposed slopes, large surface hoar and/or facets on shaded slopes, and wind-affected snow in exposed terrain at ridgelines.

A widespread crust with facets and/or surface hoar, buried in mid-January, is approximately 60 to 120 cm below the surface.

The lower snowpack is well-settled.

Sunday night

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -27 °C.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. 20 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -26 °C.

Tuesday

Scattered cloud. 30 to 60 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

Wednesday

Few clouds. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -20 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
• Make observations and continually assess conditions as you travel.
• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.