Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - The snowpack structure is mostly striaghtforward and not unusually variable. Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.

Overnight Thursday: Clear with a light East wind. Alpine temperatures near -5 and freezing levels 800 m. 

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop wind light to moderate from the southeast. Alpine temperatures near +2 and freezing levels 2000 m.

Saturday: Precipitation 15-25 mm falling as snow in the alpine and rain below. Ridgetop wind moderate from the southeast. Alpine temperatures near 0 and freezing levels 2000 m.

Sunday: Snow 5-10 cm. Ridgetop wind strong from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -3 and freezing levels 1700 m. 

 

There have been no recent avalanche reports since last Saturday. 

Last weekend, reports of natural loose wet avalanches size 2-3 on solar aspects continued. Explosive work produced size 2-3.5 wet slab avalanches, failing on crusts in the upper snowpack and gouging to the ground as they ran to near valley bottom.

As the weather pattern changes and the temperatures start to fall, a decline in natural avalanche activity is likely. However, solar slopes and weak cornices remain suspect when the sun is shining. It can really pack a punch this time of year, even for short periods of time. 

The snow surface consists of a melt-freeze crust on all aspects of the mountain top. Only high alpine slopes above 2100 m and due North may still hold some softer, dryer snow. With a limited freeze overnight and rising freezing levels by Thursday afternoon, this crust may break down quickly with mostly wet snow surfaces. There are no layers of concern in the snowpack, which has been melting and settling over the past week. Lower elevations have mostly been isothermal and melting away rapidly.

Large cornices loom along many ridgelines. They are weak and very unpredictable.

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• Avalanche hazard is expected to to increase througout the day, think carefully about your egress.
• Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.