Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Synopsis: An arctic ridge of high pressure will dominate the weather pattern over the next few days resulting in cool temperatures and mainly sunny skies. Expect daytime highs around -10, dipping to -20 overnight. Winds should be moderate from the east.

No new natural avalanches have been reported in the past couple days; however, rider or remotely triggered avalanches, whumpfing, and cracking continue to be reported throughout the region. Keep a close eye on what the sun and wind are doing over the next few days. Small weather inputs could be enough to tip the scales and increase the potential for rider triggering in specific areas (wind-loaded or sun-exposed slopes).

The region received up to 90 cm in the western sections, tapering off as you travel further east (around 35-50 cm). This new snow overlies a variety of old surfaces including weak facets, surface hoar (more predominant at tree line and below tree line elevations), a scoured crust, wind pressed snow, or any combination of these. Whumpfing, cracking, and reports from the field indicate a very poor bond between the new snow and these old surfaces. Recent snowpack tests give easy or moderate "pops or drops" shears on this persistent weakness and show potential for wide propagation. Recent strong winds have transported some of the new snow and formed dense wind slabs on a variety of aspects in exposed terrain.