Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

SATURDAY NIGHT: 2-5cm snow / Strong westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottomSUNDAY: 10-20cm snow / Strong westerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottom.MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Moderate northwesterly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottom. TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light northerly ridgetop winds / Freezing level valley bottom.

No new avalanches were reported within this region on Friday. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

The 5-10cm of new snow on Friday fell on a wide variety of surfaces including large surface hoar (weak, feather-like crystals), hard crusts formed by sun or wind, and sugary facets. There is not yet significant new snow load to create big problems, however, it will be important to monitor how the new snow is bonding to the smorgasbord of surfaces out there. When we receive significant new snow and it settles into a cohesive slab, (perhaps Sunday) you can bet there will be avalanches. I would be most concerned about areas that have surface hoar sitting on top of a hard crust. A major feature in the snowpack is a crust which was formed by rain in late November. It is down approximately 60-75cm at treeline elevations and snowpack tests suggest the snow is currently bonding well to it.Below treeline, the snowpack depth decreases rapidly. Look out for early season hazards such as rocks, stumps, and open creeks.