Avalanche Forecast

There have been no new avalanches reported in the last couple days.

A week ago (Sat Mar 23), three very large (size 3) persistent slab avalanches were reported, occurring on southerly alpine slopes and likely triggered by warming.

A thick widespread crust caps the snowpack in most areas. At lower elevations and on steep sunny slopes, the crust may soften with warming during the day or the snowpack may become isothermal.

Dry powder snow still exists on high north-facing alpine slopes and a weak layer of surface hoar may be growing in sheltered terrain at treeline and above.

Various weak layers, including crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar exist approximately 40 to 80 cm deep. An additional crust and facet layer may be found 100 to 150+ cm below the surface. Lingering concern remains for human-triggering on these persistent weak layers.

Friday Night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. West ridgetop wind gusting to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature low -7 °C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy. Northwest ridgetop wind, 30-45 km/h. Treeline temperature high -1 °C. Freezing level 1100 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with isolated wet flurries, trace to 5 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind gusting to 55 km/h. Treeline temperature high 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Monday

Flurries, 5-10 cm. Southwest ridgetop wind 30-50 km/h. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rising above 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet