Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, west. Alpine temperature near -6. Freezing level 1500 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation up to 4 cm. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1500 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light, south. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1600 m.

There have been no new reports of avalanches within the region since Wednesday when there were reports of several natural, loose, wet avalanches up to size 1.5 on south aspects at all elevations, as well as a skier triggered wind slab (size 1) on a northeast aspect at 2300 m.And on Tuesday there were two size 1.5 skier triggered wind slab avalanches reported on north and northwest aspects in the alpine. Reports earlier in the week primarily included wet loose avalanches to size 2 in steeper terrain on sunny aspects.

A light dusting (5-15 cm) of snow covers a crust on all but high elevation northerly aspects, which still hold dry snow. Below 1800 m, a supportive surface crusts exists on all aspects and will likely breakdown with daytime warming, becoming moist in the afternoon. Persistent weak layers from early January and mid-December are still being reported by local operators. They are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, a large cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets.