Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

FRIDAY NIGHT - Snow, 10-20 cm / strong west wind / alpine low temperature near -5 / freezing level 1000 m 

SATURDAY - Snow, 15-25 cm, with another 15 cm overnight / strong to extreme southwest wind / alpine high temperature near -4 / freezing level 1000 m 

SUNDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries / moderate northwest wind / alpine high temperature near -8 

MONDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and scattered flurries / strong northwest wind / alpine high temperature near -9

A natural avalanche cycle is expected on Saturday with new snow and strong winds in the foreacst.

Recent reports of avalanche activity have come almost exclusively from the southwest of the region. In the last few days, natural, explosive, and human-triggered wind slab avalanches around size 2 have been reported on east to southeast aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. Below treeline, natural wet loose and wet slab avalanches around size 2 are suspected to have run during the storm Tuesday night. Explosive control work on Wednesday produced loose wet and wet slab results size 1-1.5 below 1000 m.

10-20 cm of snow is expected on Friday night, with another 15-25 throughout the day on Saturday. Below about 1300 m the new snow likely sits on a crust. The precipitation may come as rain below treeline.

Buried 70-120 cm deep, a spotty layer of surface hoar may exist on sheltered north aspects, as well as a melt-freeze crust on south aspects and below 1450 m. Recent observations suggest warm temperatures have aided bonding at this interface. 

The mid and lower snowpack is reported as well settled and strong in most areas. However, weak facets exist at the base of the snowpack in the more shallow snowpack zones within much of the region and always have the potential of being triggered on steep, rocky slopes with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack; especially with large loads such as a cornice fall.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Storm slab size and sensitivity to triggering will likely increase through the day.