Avalanche Forecast

MONDAY Night: Mainly cloudy with flurries, accumulation 1 to 3 cm, light to moderate west switching to northwest wind, alpine temperature -15 C.

TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -13 C.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with flurries, accumulation 5 cm, moderate to light south wind, alpine temperature -8 C.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall Wednesday night into Thursday, accumulation 5-10 cm, moderate to strong south wind, alpine temperature -9 C.

We don't have any official reports of avalanche activity, but since the Highway to White Pass was closed on Monday due to avalanche activity, you can be assured that there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle on Sunday and Sunday night. This MIN report here outlines conditions with the snowfall at the end of the weekend. 

30-50 cm of new snow falling Saturday night and Sunday will take some time to settle and bond to the old snow surface below. The snow is sitting on heavily wind affected and faceted surfaces in exposed terrain and perhaps a weak layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas, as found here and here. The wind has likely already started to redistribute this new snow into lee terrain.

The lower snowpack is strong around White Pass, but inland areas like the Wheaton Valley likely have a thinner and weaker structure.

• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
• Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.