Avalanche Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Snow and flurries, most areas should see 10 cm however localized enhancement may produce up to 25 cm in isolated areas. Moderate southwest wind, alpine low -9C, and freezing level near 1000 m.

MONDAY: Cloudy with lingering flurries and sunny breaks, up to 10 cm. Light to moderate northwest wind, alpine high -3C, and freezing level rising to about 1200 m.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate southwest wind, alpine high -2C, and freezing level beginning near valley bottom rising to about 1400 m.

WEDNESDAY: Snow, 10-15 cm. Moderate southwest wind, alpine high -4C, and poor overnight recoveries with freezing level hovering around 1000 m overnight and rising above 1500 m during the day.

On Sunday, explosives and skier traffic triggered numerous size 1 avalanches. A few small dry loose avalanches and sluffing in steep terrain was also reported.

On Saturday in Glacier NP, a handful of storm slabs size 1.5-2.5 released naturally from steep north-northwest aspects above 2000 m.

On Friday, several glide slab avalanches (size 2-3) were observed on south and east aspects around the TCH highway corridor. Loose wet avalanches to size 2.5 were reported around the region; a natural loose-wet cycle was reported around Rogers Pass initiating with evening rainfall.

Avalanche activity on Thursday was limited to two glide slabs to size 2.5 releasing around 1750 m on steep south facing slopes.

On Tuesday, a size 3.5 deep slab avalanche was reported from the Northern Monashees. It was triggered by cornice fall on an east-southeast aspect above 2200 m. Additionally, a natural glide slab size 2.5 was reported from a West aspect at 1500 m and numerous loose wet to size 2 in steep southerly terrain. 

On Monday, numerous natural loose wet avalanches were reported from southerly aspects above 1900 m.

Southwesterly winds have developed slabs in lee features. 20-35 cm storm snow covers a handful of surfaces: dry settled snow and surface hoar (up to 10 mm) on northerly aspects above 1800m, and crusts on solar aspects and lower elevations. Large cornices loom over alpine ridgetops. Below 1600 m, the snowpack turns moist.

Persistent weak layers of surface hoar, crusts, and/or facets 80-120 cm down have been unreactive and no recent avalanches have been reported on these layers.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 25cm of new snow.