Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Thursday: Continued dry conditions and light winds with a temperature inversion possibly creating valley fog and above freezing temperatures in the alpine.Friday: The temperature inversion is expected to break down bringing alpine temperatures back to normal with freezing levels in valley bottoms. Cloud cover should increase throughout the day with light southwesterly winds, but no precipitation is expected.Saturday: Cloudy with light snow and light southwesterly winds. Temperatures gradually cooling with freezing levels remaining in valley bottoms.

We have received limited reports of pin-wheeling and small loose snow avalanches releasing on steep, sunny aspects during afternoon warming. Another report includes a 1m deep Size 3 slab avalanche that released from a Northwest facing alpine slope during the storm early last week, likely running on the October crust. If you've been out in the mountains and observed recent avalanche activity, please report it to [email protected]

Snow depth is typically 80-110cm at treeline although observations are limited and this amount may vary across the region. Roughly 60 to 70cm of well settled storm snow is now sitting on the October crust located just above the ground. Little is known about the reactivity of this crust; however, limited reports suggest that the crust interface is currently well bondedThe current temperature inversion is causing the snow surface to melt in the alpine. Sun exposed slopes are undergoing daily melt-freeze cycles. A surface crust is also being reported below 1700m. Large SH is forming on all aspects but is melting on south aspects during the daytime warming. If you are traveling in the mountains, now is a good time to make note of these surface conditions which may become persistent weak layers once buried by new snow.