Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Sunday: Another series of weather systems starts to affect the interior. Light snowfall, alpine temperatures -6, winds light to moderate from the northwest.Monday: Light snowfall, freezing level at 1200m, winds light west.Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures -5 and freezing level at 1200m. 

Recent reports indicate a few natural avalanches running to 2. These were reported as possible windslab releases at the treeline elevation on northerly aspects.

Up to 25 cm of recent new snow in the past 5 days and moderate to strong westerly winds have formed pockets of wind slab on lee slopes. A layer of surface hoar is buried 15-20 cm down, and has been reactive with the new snow, mainly causing loose dry sluffing from steeper terrain.A little deeper (between 40 - 60 cm below the surface) you may find a weak layer of surface hoar on sheltered slopes or a crust/facet combo on steep solar aspects. This layer is dormant, and there is not a deep enough overlying slab to create a significant hazard. That said I'd recommend keeping it on the radar, especially as the snow load above increases.In general, snowpack depths are below seasonal average with many slopes below treeline still reported to be below threshold for avalanche activity. A deeper snowpack is likely in the northern part of the region.