Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Thursday

Tuesday: Freezing Level: 500m rising to 750m, Wind: Light W, No significant precip.Wednesday: Freezing Level: 500m Wind: SW, initially moderate increasing to strong by sundown.  10 - 15 expected during the day.Thursday: Freezing Level: 500m Wind: Strong SW backing off of to moderate SW in the evening.  10 - 20 cm expected during the day.

No new avalanche activity was reported on Sunday.  On Saturday, visibility improved on Saturday revealed the extent of a large natural avalanche cycle in the North.  The big winds and large snowfall drove a cycle to size 3.5. Observations in the southern half of the region were much smaller with cornice failures resulting in size 2 avalanches. The sun is really gaining strength as we get closer to the Spring Equinox which is driving ongoing point releases on solar aspects.

The recent storm snow continues to settle and gain strength as it bonds with the underlying snowpack.  Winds have been blowing with enough energy to move snow, and with 70 cm of storm snow in the north and 20 cm in the south, there's no shortage of new snow to move around.  As a result, slabs have been developing near ridgecrest and in wind exposed locations at treeeline.  Slab properties likely vary from upside down soft slab to stiff and deep wind slab.  Cornices that now loom over many features may become weak with continued growth and/or daytime warming.  The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally well settled.