Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

During the first half of the week, large avalanches (up to size 3) were reported throughout the region, including natural storm slabs, a few cornice falls that triggered persistent slabs on the slopes below, and full depth glide slab avalanches likely to have run during the rain event. Avalanche activity has largely tapered off since Wednesday.

A widespread crust exists on all aspects, likely up to 2300 m. With sunny skies, this crust may break down during the day, moistening snow surfaces, especially on steep south-facing slopes. In the alpine, where dry snow has survived, expect wind-affected surfaces and isolated pockets of wind slab. Large, overhanging cornices linger.

A surface hoar layer from early January is buried around 1 m deep. The prominent mid-December crust is buried around 1.5 m deep. Triggering these layers is considered unlikely, except with large loads like a cornice failure or in thin snowpack areas.

Friday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday
Sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Above freezing layer 2000 to 3000 m.

Sunday
Sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday
Sunny. 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Rocks will heat up with daytime warming and may become trigger points for loose wet avalanches.