Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength. The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with light and variable winds. Freezing levels reach at valley bottom. 

SUNDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries possible. Light to moderate southerly winds. Freezing levels around 1200 m. Alpine high -1.

MONDAY: Snowfall begins overnight with 5 cm by morning and another 5 cm over the day. Cloudy with moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing levels around 1200 m. Alpine high of -1.

TUESDAY: Scattered flurries continue with moderate southwest winds. A mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level around 1000 m, alpine high of -2. 

On Friday, fresh wind slabs were reactive to human and natural triggers to size 1.5 in immediate lees from the southwest winds.

10-15 cm of recent snowfall has been redistributed into wind loaded pockets by west-southwest winds. These slabs sit over dense, wind packed snow in most terrain, and likely over a crust on south facing terrain. 

Two spotty layers of surface hoar sit in the upper snowpack. One may exist between the storm snow and old snow surface. The second is buried around 20-40 cm. These layers are more likely to be found in wind sheltered terrain and have not been reactive recently.

The mid-February crust is now buried 40-60 cm deep. Though this layer has not produced recent avalanche activity, small avalanches or large loads may step down to this layer. 

The lower snowpack is well bridged by the mid-February crust, and triggering avalanches below this layer is unlikely at this time. 

• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.