Avalanche Forecast

Loose wet avalanches will be possible at low elevations early in the day and will encompass most elevations by afternoon. Warming temperatures will usher these avalanches into higher slopes as rain moves to mid and upper elevations in the second half of the day. Watch for rollerballs and fan-shaped avalanches as clues that you could trigger a wet avalanche. These avalanches can be easier to predict but they can also be forceful. Even small avalanches could be dangerous in consequential terrain. Watch for natural avalanches coming from steep, overhead terrain.

Release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. They generally move slowly, but can contain enough mass to cause significant damage to trees, cars or buildings. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Travel when the snow surface is colder and stronger. Plan your trips to avoid crossing on or under very steep slopes in the afternoon. Move to colder, shadier slopes once the snow surface turns slushly. Avoid steep, sunlit slopes above terrain traps, cliffs areas and long sustained steep pitches.

Several loose wet avalanches, and lots of pinwheels and roller balls.

Loose wet avalanches occur where water is running through the snowpack, and release at or below the trigger point. Avoid terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or tree wells. Exit avalanche terrain when you see pinwheels, roller balls, a slushy surface, or during rain-on-snow events.

You can trigger storm slab avalanches at upper elevations, while air temperatures stay cool and before the snow becomes thoroughly wetted. Check the interface between the new and old snow and look for any weak layers just below the old snow surface. Gusty winds could form deeper drifts on leeward sides of ridges and terrain features at upper elevations. Use tests and small test slopes to check how easily the snow can slide. Watch for cracking in the snow as a sign of instability.

Release of a soft cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within the storm snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slab problems typically last between a few hours and few days. Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

You can reduce your risk from Storm Slabs by waiting a day or two after a storm before venturing into steep terrain. Storm slabs are most dangerous on slopes with terrain traps, such as timber, gullies, over cliffs, or terrain features that make it difficult for a rider to escape off the side.

Storm slabs usually stabilize within a few days, and release at or below the trigger point. They exist throughout the terrain, and can be avoided by waiting for the storm snow to stabilize.