Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the speed, direction, or duration of the wind and its effect on the snowpack.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy, up to 5 cm new snow, light to moderate southwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C.

FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, up to 3 cm new snow, light southwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C.

SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 3 cm new snow, light to moderate southwest wind, treeline temperature -8 C.

SUNDAY: Mix of sun and clouds, up to 2 cm new snow, light to moderate southwest wind, treeline temperature -6 C.

Loose dry avalanches (sluffs) in steep alpine and treeline features were observed in the last few days. Artificial triggers (explosives) released small loose dry and slab avalanches in the alpine on Thursday.

10-20 cm low density snow have added to the recent snow which has buried surface hoar and other old surfaces. In the alpine, new snow sits on top of layers of hard wind slab, scoured areas, sastrugi and isolated pockets of soft snow. A hard crust is found up to 1800 m.    

A solid mid-pack sits above a deeply buried crust and facet layers near the bottom of the snowpack (150-200 cm deep), which are currently unreactive. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.