Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

A ridge of high pressure will build over the interior on Tuesday. Mostly cloudy conditions are expected but sunny breaks are possible in the afternoon. Light scattered flurries are possible in the morning but things should dry out by the afternoon. Alpine winds should remain light. Freezing levels on Tuesday are expected to be around 1500m but should fall to near valley bottom Tuesday overnight. On Wednesday, mainly dry conditions are expected with a mix of sun and cloud. Freezing levels are forecast to climb as high as 2000m by the end of Wednesday. There is some uncertainty for Thursday with light scattered flurries possible or partly sunny conditions. This will depend on the northern position of the ridge. Freezing levels are expected to climb to around 2500m on Thursday.

A widespread natural cycle to size 3.5 has been reported on Friday through Sunday. This includes both storm slabs and persistent slabs. Avalanches are expected to be starting dry and ending wet, potentially running to valley bottom. On Tuesday, natural avalanches remain possible at upper elevations but are generally not expected. Human-triggering remains likely and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended until the storm slab has had a chance to stabilize.

60-90cm of rapidly settling storm snow sits over the late-Jan weak layer at higher elevations. Rain has soaked the snow surface up to around 1700m and moist snow is reported to at least 2000m. Strong SW winds have formed wind slabs in exposed leeward terrain features. The storm slab sits on an old rain crust at lower elevations, variable surface hoar, and/or wind affected surfaces at higher elevations. The mid-January surface hoar is typically down 80-120cm and is still reactive in some areas. The mid-December weak layer is down over 120cm but has generally been unreactive.