Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

On Friday several large wet loose avalanches were observed in the highway corridor.

This is capping off a very active week of spring avalanche activity - there was a widespread cycle of natural and controlled, wet loose and deep slab avalanches with numerous sz 3, and isolated sz 4's. Many avalanche paths failed down to ground once the avalanches were in motion.

Rain & warm temps have penetrated the snowpack creating a moist, isothermal snowpack on all aspects into the alpine. Buried crusts in the upper 50 cm are breaking down. Shallow snowpack features have loose, weak snow to ground.

20-40cm above the ground the Nov 17 basal weakness can still be found in many areas.

Warm and dry weather has come to an end as a trough of low pressure brings light precip and dropping freezing levels (FZL).

Tonight: Isolated flurries, Alpine Low 0°C, FZL 2000m, Moderate W ridgetop wind.

Sun: Isolated flurries, High 1°C, FZL 2200m, light W winds.

Mon: Wet flurries (6cm), Low -1°C, High 3°C. FZL 2400m.

Tues: Cloudy with sunny periods, Low 0°C, High 8°C, FZL 2700m.

• Remember that in the spring strong solar radiation and warm temperatures can weaken the snow in a matter of minutes.
• Minimize exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of runout zones.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.