Avalanche Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing skies / Moderate, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -15 / Freezing level valley bottom.

TUESDAY: Sunny / Light to moderate, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -4 / Above freezing layer of air moving in late afternoon and creating a strong temperature inversion with warm air above roughly 2000 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Moderate, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +1 / Strong inversion with an above freezing layer of air above 2000 m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +1 / Strong inversion with an above freezing layer of air above 2000 m.

Data is very sparse in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

50-80 cm. of recent storm snow and moderate to strong southwest winds formed widespread wind slabs. These slabs may be especially reactive to human triggers in areas where they are sitting on a layer of small surface hoar. There is a crust from early November now down approximately 75-125 cm. This crust has been observed with sugary facets above and below it. There are limited observations on this layer, but some test results indicate that it has the potential to be reactive to human triggering. Total snowpack depths are an average of 100-200 cm at upper elevations, tapering quickly at lower elevations. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.