Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Over the past three days, a widespread avalanche cycle occurred and numerous (size 2-4) wet slab, persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches were seen from all aspects and elevations. Yesterday, a skier remotely triggered (from 50 m away) a size 4 persistent slab avalanche.

Until colder temperatures arrive and stabilize the snowpack, rider-triggered avalanches remain likely. Avoid overhead exposure, very large avalanches have the potential to run to valley bottom.

In the high alpine isolated pockets of wind-transported dry snow exists. A thin, breakable crust exists above 2300 m with moist snow under the crust. Wet, saturated snow 2200 m and below.

The stress of the new load (warm, wet upper snowpack) has been actively producing avalanches failing down to the early and mid January crust/facet layer (30-80 cm down) and the early December rain crust/ facet layer (100+ cm down) which remains a concern above 2000 m in shallow snowpack areas.

The lower snowpack is characterized by weak basal facets in many areas.

Wednesday Night

Cloudy, a trace of new snow, treeline temperatures near -1°C, south alpine wind 20 gusting to 45 km/h, freezing level around 1700 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries up to 3-7 cm, southwest alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h, freezing level around 1600 m.

Friday

Cloudy with light snow, treeline temperatures near -2°C, southerly alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, freezing levels near 1600 m.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, a trace of new snow, treeline temperatures near -4°C, southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to the presence of deeply buried weak layers.
• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.