Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Friday: Mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1100 m. Ridgetop wind moderate from the South.

Saturday: Chance of snow 5-10 cm. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing levels 1100 m. 

Sunday: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing levels 1100 m and dropping to valley bottom overnight. 

On Thursday a few explosive triggered size 1 avalanches were reported. 

On Wednesday numerous storm slabs up to size 1.5 were triggered with explosives. 

On Tuesday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 was reported from the lizard range. 

Natural avalanche activity may taper off a bit but the snowpack remains primed for human triggering. 

Please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network. Thank you to those that have already submitted this winter!

30-50 cm of recent storm snow blanketed the region by Tuesday morning. Storm slabs will likely remain reactive to human triggers, especially where the wind stiffens the new snow. Deeper slabs will be found on lee slopes due to strong winds. 

A persistent slab 80-130 cm thick now sits on the early December crust. This persistent weak layer, with facetted crystals and surface hoar crystals above and/or below it is reaching a tipping point. 

Deeper in the snowpack are two hard melt-freeze crusts that formed in November that may have some weak crystals around them. This potential avalanche problem is dormant at this time, however; it remains on our radar.

• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Good day to make conservative terrain choices.