Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Wind effect is extremely variable

A fairly benign weather pattern with continued outflow winds until Friday. The pattern will then change and the coastal areas will see light-moderate amounts of precipitation, rising freezing levels and strong SW winds.Wednesday: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -12.0. Ridgetop winds light from the North. Slight alpine temperature inversion.Thursday: Sunny with some cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures -10.0. Ridgetop winds light from the North. Freezing levels valley bottom with a stronger alpine temperature inversion.Friday: Snow amounts 5-10 cm. Alpine temperatures -5.0. Ridgetop winds light - moderate from the SW. Freezing levels 800 m.

Natural avalanche activity has tapered off and only sluffing from steep terrain has been reported. Over the weekend a minor natural avalanche cycle occurred in the northern part of region. Slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported from alpine and treeline cross loaded features. North aspects in the alpine continue to be the most likely slopes for triggering the February weak layer where it may be well preserved and allow for long fracture propagations resulting in very large avalanche.

Cold arctic air has developed melt-freeze crusts on all aspects at lower elevations, and all but North aspects in the alpine. No recent reports of whumpfing or remote triggering on this weak layer of crusts and facets. Forecast strong Northeast outflow winds continue to develop wind slabs in areas that still have snow available for transport. Basal facets and/or depth hoar remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the northern part of the region. Cornices are also large and may become weak if northerly winds start to undercut them.