Avalanche Forecast

Mostly sunny weather is expected on Tuesday. This should not change the overall low avalanche danger and no avalanche problems are expected. Previous loose wet avalanches, consolidation and low solar input should make more loose wet avalanches very unlikely. Watch for soft wet snow on steep solar slopes with sufficient snow or initial natural releases that would indicate conditions could be different than expected.

As a general backcountry travel safety note, watch for terrain hazards (exposed rocks, trees, streams, etc.) at lower elevations and on wind scoured aspects. On non-solar aspects with a slick and supportable crust, take extra caution when traversing steep slopes and be prepared to self-arrest if necessary.  

At Hurricane light snow on 4 January was followed by about 2 inches of rain on 5 January with a warming trend. This may have caused some natural or triggered avalanches.

Dry and unseasonably warm weather followed last week. This drained, consolidated and generally reset the entire snowpack at Hurricane. Surface melt-freeze crusts of varying thicknesses are likely with generally only southerly aspects softening. On windward or southerly aspects at Hurricane there is little if any snow cover.

NWAC observer Katy Reid at Hurricane on Saturday reported a lot of bare ground and stable melt freeze snow that only averaged 8 inches or so.

Mild temperatures and a few light rain showers were received Saturday, followed by cloudy weather and a slight cooling trend Sunday, and decreasing clouds today. This should not change the overall stable snow pack and current low danger.