Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Recently, some small, dry and wet loose avalanches have been reported in steep terrain.

Looking forward: Avalanches on buried weak layers may be difficult to trigger, but if one is triggered, it is likely to be large and destructive.

The upper snowpack is currently quite variable.

On solar aspects, a new surface crust caps 5 to 15 cm of new snow that is settling over a widespread melt-freeze crust which exists everywhere but some high north-facing slopes. This lower crust has been reported to be generally supportive to skis, and anywhere from a couple cm to 20 cm thick. In some places, there is even a thin, breakable crust on shaded alpine slopes.

On north aspects, the surface snow is facetting and has up to 15 mm surface hoar on top of it.

Two concerning weak layers are present in the mid snowpack: facets/surface hoar or a crust from mid-February buried 30-70 cm, and facet/surface hoar/crust from late January buried 60-100 cm.

Saturday Night

Mainly cloudy with a chance of flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1800 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with mixed precipitation beginning late in the afternoon. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud, with up to 15 mm of mixed precipitation overnight. 10 to 25 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C.

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy with up to 15 cm of new snow. 10 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
• In times of uncertainty, conservative terrain choices are our best defense.