Avalanche Forecast

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / Light, west ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -11 / Freezing level valley bottom.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light, west ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 2 / Freezing level 2000 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 5-10 cm. / Light, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -3 / Freezing level 1300 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 5-10 cm. / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 0 / Freezing level 1700 m.

No avalanches were reported in this region on Wednesday.

NOTE: Observations are very limited during this time of year.

5-10 cm of flurries and strong southeasterly winds have formed small wind slabs sitting on hard crusts on lee features below ridgetops. Moist snow surfaces at all elevations/aspects formed by the recent warm weather have frozen into hard crusts. Large cornices hang like Gargoyles over alpine ridgetops. Cornice falls can trigger large avalanches on slopes below that a single rider may not trigger.

The snowpack is overall strong and settled in most areas. However, steep and rocky alpine slopes with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack may still harbor deeply buried weak layers. Glide cracks releasing as full depth glide slab avalanches become more common in the spring and are extremely difficult to predict. Best practice is to avoid slopes with glide cracks.

The snow line is slowly creeping up the mountains, making some access areas snow-free. 

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
• Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
• Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
• Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.