Avalanche Forecast

High -

Thursday Night: Cloudy. Ridgetop wind light to moderate from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -6 and freezing levels 1200 m. 

Friday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures -5 and freezing levels 1000 m.

Saturday: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm. Moderate ridgetop wind from the southwest. Alpine temperatures -4. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with alpine temperatures near -3. Ridgetop wind light from the north and freezing levels 1300 m. 

Avalanche reports from the past few days have been limited to thin wind slabs to size 1.5 in the alpine. 

On Tuesday, reports indicated that small loose wet avalanches occurred from steep rocky terrain. Cornices also became weak and failed with daytime warming. No slabs were reported from the slopes below. 

Snow from earlier in the week has been redistributed by southwest winds at upper elevations.

The recent snow sits above a variety of old snow surfaces comprising mostly of a widespread melt-freeze crust with the exception of high north-facing terrain where it may be sitting on small surface hoar crystals. A melt-freeze crust exists at treeline and wet snow is likely found below 1100 m.

Cornices along ridgelines are large, and the likelihood of them failing will increase when the sun comes out.

• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.