Avalanche Forecast

High -

  

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy / Light, west ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -3 / Freezing level 1700 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-10 cm. / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -1 / Freezing level 1500 m.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, west ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 2 / Freezing level 2000 m.

SATURDAY: Snow; 10-20 cm. / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -2 / Freezing level 1500 m.

No avalanches were reported in this region on Tuesday. However, observations are very limited at this time of year.

Moist snow surfaces at all elevations/aspects formed by the recent warm weather have no frozen into hard crusts. Forecast flurries may form small winds slabs on lee features in the alpine. 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.
• Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.