Avalanche Forecast

High

On Thursday, our South Rockies field team was out in the Mear Lake area, and they saw numerous, small (size 1-1.5), naturally triggered wet loose avalanches on steep, sunny slopes at treeline and above. See their MIN (Mountain Information Network) post here for more details.

Avalanches from earlier in the week are being reported as visibility improves, and people venture into the backcountry after the storm. As expected, there appears to have been a widespread avalanche cycle, with numerous large (size 2) and some larger (size 3) avalanches. Mostly storm slabs in the alpine, and wet loose at treeline and below.

A few avalanches likely started as storm slabs in the alpine, or just below a ridge, picked up loose wet snow, kept moving over dirt in some places, and ran down well into treeline, covering lower elevation hiking trails or forest roads.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Dynamic spring weather has resulted in variable snow surface conditions. A wet storm earlier in the week soaked the upper snowpack. Cold overnight temperatures have turned this moist snow into a frozen crust, except in areas where dry snow covered and insulated it.

The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong, except in areas with snow depths less than 150 cm. In these lower snow areas, the mid-pack is likely weaker and more faceted.

Below treeline, expect to find moist or refrozen surfaces, and a shrinking snowpack that is isothermal during the heat of the day.

The lower snowpack includes a layer of large, weak facets and/or depth hoar crystals.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy. 1-5 cm of snow expected in the alpine. Freezing level at 1500 m, rising to 2000 m. Moderate building to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline low around 2 °C

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 5-15 cm of snow expected in the alpine. Freezing level at 1800 m, rising to 2200 m. Moderate to Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around 2 °C

Monday

Mostly cloudy some periods of cooling. 1-5 cm of snow expected in the alpine. Freezing level at 1200 m. Strong easing to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -2 °C

Tuesday

Cloudy with periods of clearing . 1-5 cm of snow expected in the alpine. Freezing level at 1200 m. Strong easing to moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline high around -2 °C

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for unstable snow on specific terrain features, especially when the snow is moist or wet.
• Even brief periods of direct sun could produce natural avalanches.
• Be alert to conditions that change throughout the day.
• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.