Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

TONIGHT: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 2-10 cm. Ridge wind light, northwest. Alpine Temperature near -6. Freezing level 500 m.MONDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, west. Alpine Temperature near -5. Freezing level 1700 m.TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, southwest. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 1700 m.WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light, south. Alpine temperature near -4. Freezing level 1800 m.

On Saturday there were reports of small (size 1) skier and sled triggered slab avalanches (15 - 25 cm deep) on north and northeast aspects in the alpine. Explosive control work also produced several cornice failures up to size 2.5 that entrained loose snow on the slopes below but no deeper slab releases.Last week, explosive control work on Friday produced size 1.5 slab avalanches averaging 20-60 cm deep on steep northerly features at treeline. And earlier in the week numerous wet loose avalanches were observed in the region to size 2.5 on sunny aspects. As well as both skier and sledder triggered wind slabs up to size 1.5 on south east to west aspects.

A light dusting of snow (5-10 cm) covers a crust on all but high elevation northerly aspects which still hold loose, dry snow above a generally well-settled snow pack. Below 1700 m, a surface crust exists on all aspects and will likely breakdown with daytime warming, becoming moist in the afternoon.Deeper persistent weak layers from mid-late February (down 40 -100 cm deep) as well as January and December layers are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets also linger at the base of the snowpack.