Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

  

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear / Light, north ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature 0 (temperature inversion, -12 in valleys) / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Light, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +6 / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

THURSDAY: Sunny / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +6 / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 0 / Temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3000 m.

There have been very few reports of avalanches in the region, however, observations are very limited at this time. 

Several recent MIN reports from neighboring Glacier National Park have reported human triggered avalanches on small surface hoar below the recent storm snow.

Data is very sparse in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network!

  

On Monday, 10 cm of new snow and moderate northwest winds formed small wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. Last week’s strong southwest winds created wind slabs that are still lingering on lee features at treeline and above. These wind slabs may be surprisingly reactive in areas where they are sitting on a layer of small surface hoar. There are a couple of crusts in the mid snowpack, from mid and early November. The most prominent of these is from early November, and it has been reported that there are weak, sugary facets above and below this crust. It is down approximately 70-100 cm, and is most likely to be reactive to human triggers on south facing slopes and in shallow, rocky, snowpack areas in the alpine.

• Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.