Avalanche Forecast

Fair

Sunday:  Freezing Level: 500m, Wind: Mod SW, No significant precip.Monday:  Freezing Level: 500m, rising to 750m Wind: Mod S, No significant precip.Tuesday: Freezing Level: 500m, Wind: Light W, No significant precip.

Avalanche activity on Friday was extensive.  Below treeline both loose and slab avalanches were reported on all aspects. Natural avalanches to size 3.5 were observed in the treeline and alpine elevations as storm snow failed and ran full path.  Sizes were slightly diminished in the south of the region, but still significant as many isolated terrain features failed resulting in both loose and slab avalanches to size 2.

The latest system favored the North where up to 70cm fell as of Friday evening.  Southern accumulations dim in comparison coming in around 10cm.  As a result, I've weighted northern observations a bit heavier in my analysis.  Moderate to Strong winds were initially out of the SW, switching to NW during the later half of the storm creating stiff and deep wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine.  Lower elevation slopes received rain and warm temperatures which left many below treeline slopes saturated. The new snow overlies heavy accumulations from earlier in the week that have most likely gained considerable strength. I would imagine that with the ongoing weather pattern, significant cornice development has also taken place.The mid and lower snowpack layers are generally well settled.