Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Monday

The low pressure system which caused winter storms over the weekend will be replaced by an arctic front on Monday. This arctic front will result in clear, cold, and dry conditions over the interior regions.Monday: Light snowfall in the morning, increasing sun in the afternoon, decreasing temperatures during the day, and moderate to strong alpine winds from the NE as the arctic front approachesTuesday/Wednesday: Mostly sunny, no precipitation, light NE winds, and unseasonably cold conditions.

No recent avalanches have been reported but incoming field data is still very limited.

Variable snowpack depths are being reported across the region but typically 30-50 cm of storm snow has fallen on approximately 1m of old, well-settled snow. The new storm slab will increase in reactivity and destructive potential as it deepens or in areas where it has been redistributed and compressed by wind. The storm slabs are forming over a variety of old snow surfaces including (1) winds slabs and wind scoured areas in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline, (2) sun crusts on steep south facing slopes, and (3) surface hoar in sheltered areas around treeline elevation and below. There are still two layers of concern within the mid/lower snowpack: the early November surface hoar is down roughly half way (50-60cm) and the October rain crust is near the ground. While these layers have recently become dormant, the weight of the new storm snow may cause these layers to reactivate in isolated areas causing large, destructive avalanches. The October crust can be found in the alpine on north aspects (likely east and west as well). The early November surface hoar appears to be spotty and drainage specific.