Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday

Clear skies and cold temperatures are forecast for Monday night. Cloud should start to build during the morning as the wind veers to the west and increases to moderate. Expect about 2-5 cm of snow Tuesday afternoon and another 5 cm by Wednesday morning. Wednesday is expected to be unsettled with flurries, moderate winds, and rising freezing levels. A warm front should move in from the Pacific on Thursday bringing strong southerly winds, high freezing levels, and heavy precipitation.

We have a report of a natural size 2.5 on a North aspect in "Big Simpsons Gulch" that ran from the crater lake ridge and triggered a size 2.0 on a ESE aspect lower down and then triggered a size 2.0 slab below the big cliffs. We are not sure how old this avalanche is, and believe that it was the result of a cornice fall.

Moderate southwest winds transported the 3-5 cm of new snow that we have received over the past two days into thin new windslabs at ridgetops. Currently, up to 60cm of snow sits over the mid February interface. This interface is variable, it consists of a strong melt freeze crust below 1000m, above 1000 m exists facets, surface hoar (in more sheltered areas), sun crust or wind press. The surface hoar is not widespread but is responsible for much of the larger avalanches that occurred earlier this week. This layer should be on your radar, as it may be susceptible to rider triggers.