Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast. Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

A high-pressure system off the coast will bring generally cooler, more seasonal-like temperatures and clearing to the region.

Wednesday/ Thursday: Mainly sunny and alpine temperatures near -4. Ridgetop wind 50km/hr from the West. Strong alpine temperature inversion. Freezing levels valley bottom.

Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Alpine temperatures near -8 and freezing levels 1500 m. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest.

Widespread natural avalanche activity up to size 3 was reported through the region on Tuesday. Natural avalanche activity may taper off a bit but the snowpack remains primed for human triggering. 

Please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network. Thank you to those that have already submitted this winter!

30-50 cm of recent storm snow blanketed the region by Tuesday morning. Storm slabs will likely be reactive, especially where the wind stiffens the new snow. Deeper slabs could be found on lee slopes.A persistent slab 70-110 cm thick now sits on the early December crust. There is increasing evidence that this persistent weak layer, with facetted crystals and surface hoar crystals above and/or below it is reaching a tipping point and susceptible to human triggering and step down avalanches from recent storm snow. 

The base of the snowpack consists of a hard melt-freeze crust from early-November that may also have weak crystals around it. There has not been recent avalanche activity on this layer but it remains on our radar. The most likely spot to trigger it would be on thin and rocky slopes or, like above, from step down avalanches in the recent storm snow.

• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
• Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.