Avalanche Forecast

The "pineapple express" is just hitting us. Lots of precipitation, mild temps and high alpine winds are forecast over the weekend. Up to 40cm are expected over the next 24hrs. Freezing levels may rise to 1600m, and southerly winds in the alpine may reach 125km/hr today. The intense loading will rapidly cause danger to rise.

Nearly 30cm of heavy, and moist at lower elevations, snow has fallen in the last 12 hours. This has rapidly loaded the Feb 12 surface hoar and crust layers which are now down 80 to 90cm. This layer is most prevalent at and below treeline. In the alpine, southerly winds are transporting snow rapidly loading slopes and forming new windslabs.

A natural avalanche cycle is just beginning as the storm hits. Rapid loading by snow and moderate S'ly winds are triggering avalanches. Large natural avalanches to size 3 have been observed along the highway running to valley bottom. Precip rates and wind speeds will increase today; expect natural avalanches to run full path in the backcountry.