Avalanche Forecast

No significant avalanches were reported on Thursday or Friday. On Wednesday, a natural wind slab cycle to size 2.5 was observed across the region. These avalanches occurred on northwest, west, and southwest aspects at treeline and above. These avalanches are a result of ongoing outflow winds.

Over the past few days strong outflow winds have scoured easterly slopes, created hard slabs on west and south slopes, and cross-loaded others.

A layer buried that formed in mid-November can be found down 70 to 100 cm at treeline and above. This layer consists of a crust below 1200 m and a layer of surface hoar above this elevation. This layer has not shown recent signs of instability.

The depth of the snowpack at treeline varies widely from 100 to 200 cm and tapers rapidly below treeline. Many early-season hazards such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks exist below treeline.

Saturday Night

Clear skies, no precipitation, strong outflow winds continue in inlets with alpine winds light from the northeast, treeline temperatures warm to -2 °C.

Sunday

Sunny, no precipitation, 20 to 30 km/h wind in the alpine from the northeast, above freezing temperatures between 1000 and 2000 m potentially reaching +4 °C.

Sunny, no precipitation, 20 to 30 km/h wind in the alpine from the north, above freezing temperatures between 1200 and 2000 m potentially reaching +1 °C.

Cloudy with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of snow, 40 to 60 km/h wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.