Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Sunday: Northwest flows aloft will bring continued snowfall accumulations. Snow amounts 5-10 cm accompanied by moderate ridgetop winds from the West. Alpine temperatures near -6.0 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Monday: A low pressure system over Gulf of Alaska will move onto the north coast, sliding South bringing light precipitation. Snow amounts near 5cm with moderate NW ridgetop winds. Alpine temperatures near -6 and freezing levels at valley bottom. Tuesday: Light-Moderate snowfall amounts expected. Alpine temperatures near -3.0. Ridgetop winds  out of the NW in the light ranges.

No new avalanche observations reported.

Around 15 cm of snow overlies a variety of surfaces including hard old wind slabs, thin and thick crusts and large surface hoar crystals which can be found in sheltered terrain below treeline. In some areas, winds have transported the new snow and has built winds slabs in the lee of terrain features. A surface hoar layer buried down 40-80 cm seems to be gaining strength, but still exhibits moderate, sudden results in isolated snowpack tests. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by heavy triggers in unsupported, shallow, rocky terrain where more faceting has taken place.