Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

A change in the weather pattern is approaching. FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries at higher elevations. Ridgetop winds moderate from the southwest and freezing levels 1000 m. SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated sunny periods. Freezing levels 1500 m and alpine near temperatures near -2. Ridgetop wind light from the northwest.SUNDAY: Periods of snow, 5 cm expected in the North and up to 15 cm expected in the South. Freezing levels 1300 m and alpine temperatures near -3. Ridgetop winds remain light from the northwest.MONDAY: Cloudy with snow amounts 5-10 cm. Freezing levels 1600 m and alpine temperatures near -1.

On Thursday, no new avalanches were reported from the region.On Wednesday, natural loose wet avalanche activity continued up to size 3 on SE-SW aspects in the northern parts of the region. In the South, a few natural loose wet avalanches were reported up to size 2 from steep solar aspects. We suspect that natural avalanche activity will slowly decrease as temperatures drop over the weekend.

Snow surfaces are variable. On higher North aspects (above 1700 m) you may find some dry, faceted snow. Some of this has been redistributed by southwesterly and northerly winds, potentially creating some isolated wind slabs. On solar aspects (East, South, West) at treeline and in the alpine the upper 10-30 cm will likely sport a firm crust with cooling temperatures. Below treeline the snow could remain moist or wet if it doesn't re-freeze. Below the melt-freeze crust on solar aspects and the wintery snow on the polar aspects down 40-60 cm sits the February facet interface. This interface may be reactive on higher North aspects where a firm surface crust doesn't exist. The snowpack has gone through a lot of change with the hot and sunny weather. The mushy snowpack will start to solidify and lock-up allowing for hard conditions and less avalanche activity, especially on the solar slopes.