Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Flurries bring 5-10 cm of snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine temperatures around to -8 C.

MONDAY: Morning flurries bring another 5 cm of snow then cloudy in the afternoon, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, 40-70 km/h wind from the west, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

WEDNESDAY: 10-15 cm of snow, 40-60 km/h wind from the southwest, alpine high temperatures around -2 C.

There are no recent reports of avalanches, but observations are limited this time of year. Possible locations where avalanches could be triggered include near ridgetops and on slopes where the wind has deposited blowing snow. Early season avalanches can most easily propagate and run in areas where the underlying ground is smooth like rock slabs, scree, or grassy slopes.

A light dusting of new snow will cover hard wind pressed snow on south to west aspects and wind-scoured crusts elsewhere. Snow depths at treeline sit around 100 cm, tapering quickly with elevation. Soft snow may still be found below treeline but the snow pack is quite thin here. Underneath the surface snow at the higher elevations lies a lower snowpack largely characterized by sandwiches of crusts and large weak snow crystals (facets), as observed in another recent MIN report. We're also keeping an eye on a potential surface hoar layer (see video here). With limited field observations, uncertainty remains on the distribution and reactivity of these layers.