Avalanche Forecast

With the wet avalanche cycle from the early part of the week finished, there is some uncertainty about the amount and reactivity of snow that accumulated in the high alpine Thursday night. Any wind slabs formed with this new snow are our only real avalanche concerns over the near term.

Limited high alpine locations in the region may have up to 20 cm of wind-redistributed new snow on the surface. Up to 30 cm might be found in the Tetrahedron area.

Below any new snow coverage, and everywhere it didn't snow, an increasingly strong and supportive crust will form in the uppermost part of the rain-soaked snowpack in the coming days.

Below treeline coverage in many areas has returned to below threshold depth for avalanches.

Friday night

Cloudy with diminishing flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow. South alpine winds switching to northwest and easing, 10-20 km/h.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. Northwest alpine wind 5-10 km/h. Treeline temperature 0°C with freezing levels around 1300 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Northeast alpine wind 15-30 km/h, increasing. Treeline temperature -1°C with freezing levels around 1200 m.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. East or northeast alpine wind 20-30 km/h. Treeline temperature 0°C with freezing levels around 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.