Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with light to moderate snow – 5-15 cm. The freezing level gradually climbs to 1200-1400 m near the end of the day. Ridge winds are light increasing to strong from the E-SE. THURSDAY: Periods of snow – 10-20 cm. The freezing level dips back to 800-1000 m by the end of the day and winds are moderate from the S-SE. FRIDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks. The freezing level is around 1400 m and winds are light.

Observations on Monday were limited due to poor visibility; however, there were a few reports of natural slab avalanches up to size 2 from immediate lee slopes in the alpine. There was also a report of a size 3 avalanche that initiated on a north aspect in the alpine, and a large natural cornice fall. Expect wind slabs to remain sensitive to rider triggering in steep exposed terrain.

Over the past few days we've seen snowfall accumulations of 5-15 cm each day, and storm snow totals of around 40-60 cm. Strong to extreme ridgetop winds have shifted the new snow into hard or soft wind slabs at treeline and in the alpine, adding to an ongoing wind slab problem. Some areas are reporting a weak surface hoar layer near the base of the most recent storm snow. An old crust buried in early February can now be found around 80-120 cm below the surface. This crust, which may coexist with small facets or decomposing surface hoar, recently produced sudden planar ("pops") results in snowpack tests. Although no recent avalanches were reported to have failed at this interface, I'd remain suspicious of this layer in steep, unsupported terrain at treeline and in the alpine.