Avalanche Forecast

Low - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Friday

Friday looks to be a pretty funky meteorological period. The good news is that we are expected to return to a more typical stormy winter pattern. The bad news is that we have to endure some rain, perhaps even some freezing rain, before we get back to the snow on Saturday. THURSDAY NIGHT: Freezing level around 2200 m, moderate to strong southwest wind, 2 to 4 mm of precipitation expected.FRIDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 2200 m, moderate to strong south/southwest wind, 8 to 12 mm of precipitation expected.SATURDAY: Overcast, freezing level around 1000 m, light south/southeast wind, 2 to 4 mm of precipitation expected.SUNDAY: Decreasing cloud cover, freezing level around 700 m, light southeast wind, trace of precipitation expected.

On Wednesday numerous loose avalanches to size 1.5 were reported from steep south aspects at and below treeline. On Tuesday snow balling and pin wheeling was reported from north facing aspects. On Monday several loose wet avalanches to size 1 were reported from southeast and south facing features between 1800 and 2100 m.

On Sunday a slight crust began to form on south and southwest facing aspects as warm temperatures and sun combined to moisten the snow surface. By Tuesday the upper 5 cm of the snowpack had started to become moist, even on upper elevation northeast facing features. Last Thursday and Friday two successive storms produced 50 to 70 cm of snow with wind mainly out of the south. Time and warm temperatures have allowed this snow to settle and bond well with the underlying surface. The exception may be below treeline where there may be isolated pockets of buried surface hoar. Wind effect in the alpine has been extensive but reported wind slab avalanche activity has ceased.40 to 100 cm below the surface there is a widespread melt-freeze crust that was buried on December 15th. This layer has not produced much in the way of avalanche activity and is likely trending towards dormancy. Beneath the mid-December crust, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well settled.