Avalanche Forecast

Several avalanches surprised skiers across the region over the weekend. Some were quite large and were remotely triggered from a distance, indicating a touchy snowpack over a persistent weak layer. Many groups recently traveling in the backcountry have also reported signs of instability like whumpfing and shooting cracks.

For more information, click on the photos below.

Expect to find up to 25 cm of soft snow in wind-sheltered and shady areas. This snow covers wind-affected surfaces or a crust on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations. A layer of weak, faceted crystals over a crust, or surface hoar, is the primary layer of concern, buried around 40 to 80 cm.

A sun crust may have formed on the surface on steep south and west-facing slopes, and snow will be heavier and possibly moist or crusty at lower elevations.

Monday Night

Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of new snow expected. 40 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around - 3 °C.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy, with 2 cm of new snow expected. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around -3 °C. Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy, with 2 to 5 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.

Thursday

Cloudy, with 2 to 5 cm of new snow expected. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures around +2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Approach steep open slopes at and below treeline cautiously, buried surface hoar may exist.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.