Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.
• Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

No new avalanches were reported, but observations remain limited.

With heavy rain and above 0 °C temperature, small wet loose avalanches likely occurred on steep slopes at lower elevations.

If you are heading into the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations via the Mountain Information Network.

Rain falling up to the mountain tops has produced moist snow at all elevations on Saturday morning. This overlies old surfaces such as crust on all aspects and elevations and wind-affected snow on high north-facing terrain.

In some areas, a crust formed on Christmas Eve can be found 30 to 50 cm below the surface.

The thick mid-December crust is found down 1 to 2 meters. In general, the snowpack is right-side up and well settled.

Saturday Night

Cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of wet snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday

Cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of wet snow or rain at treeline. 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Cloudy. Up to 5 cm of snow at treeline and above. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Tuesday

Cloudy. 15 to 30 cm of snow at treeline and above. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for rapidly changing conditions during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.