Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Expect a mix of sun and cloud for the forecast period with a chance of very light flurries on Wednesday and Thursday. Ridgetop winds are expected to be moderate to strong from the southeast on Tuesday and Wednesday, becoming light by Thursday. Freezing levels are expected to remain at valley bottom for the forecast period.

No new avalanches have been reported.

Although recently formed wind slabs have likely gained strength, I'd remain cautious on steep, unsupported slopes in the immediate lee of ridge crests. Thanks to recent solar radiation and warmer alpine temperatures, you'll likely find a melt-freeze crust on steep, sun-exposed slopes at higher elevations. We're still dealing with a thin, early-season snowpack for much of the Northwest Inland region. Shedin creek snow pillow is at historical minimum snow depth, and Tsai creek snow pillow is setting a new historical minimum snow depth. Between 80 and 100 cm of snow can be found at tree-line in the south and west of the region, with closer to 60 cm in the east. A weak basal layer probably exists in most areas, and I suspect that the ongoing cold temperatures have continued to promote faceting in the snowpack, especially in shallow, rocky areas.