Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Sunday night: No new snow expected. Possibility of temperature inversion with temps around -1 at 1500 m. Light northerly winds.

Monday: Sunny with no new snow expected. Light west winds and freezing levels rising to 1700 m.

Tuesday: Cloudy with no new snow expected. Moderate south winds. Freezing levels rising to 1800 m.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with light flurries in the morning bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light to moderate southwest winds. Freezing level rising to 1400 m.

On Saturday a few natural size one wet loose avalanches were observed in steep terrain. We suspect this type of avalanche activity will increase on Monday.

A supportive crust extends into the alpine on all aspects. This crust will likely become moist as the freezing level rises and the sun comes out. Wind slabs may be found at high elevations on north and east aspects.

A couple of layers of weak crystals in the upper snowpack appear to be bonding according to recent snowpack tests. Additionally, we suspect that the surface crust will help bridge these layers, further decreasing their likelihood of triggering.

• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.