Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear and starry. Alpine temperatures near -18C. Ridgetop winds strong decreasing to moderate from the northeast.SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with possible isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Alpine temperatures near -13C. Ridgetop winds light to moderate from the northeast.MONDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures near -15C. Ridgetop winds light to moderate from the east.TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Alpine temperature near -16C. Ridgetop winds moderate from the northeast.

Pockets of wind slab were reactive to skier traffic early this week, resulting in avalanches up to size 2 in the alpine. Recent reactivity of wind slabs has been confined to steep, unsupported rolls.

Significant strong to extreme winds have redistributed the 40-50 cm of recent snow in the alpine and treeline, producing a variety of wind affected surfaces including hard/soft wind slabs, sastrugi, and isolated and protected pockets of soft faceted snow. Expect wind affect to extend to all elevations including a surface wind skin at lower elevations.Due to scouring and wind-loading, anywhere from 0-60 cm recent snow sits on a crust on all aspects below 2000m and solar aspects into the alpine. In isolated and sheltered terrain at treeline and below, a layer of weak feathery surface hoar or sugary facets may be identified, but with little reactivity. Current cold temperatures are promoting surface faceting and are breaking down the buried crust.The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled.