Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

  

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear / Light, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature 0 (temperature inversion, -12 in valleys) / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Moderate, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +6 / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

THURSDAY: Sunny / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +6 / Strong temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3500 m.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Moderate, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature 0 / Temperature inversion with above freezing air 2000-3000 m.

Data is very sparse in this region. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

  

10 cm of new snow on Monday covered a possible layer of surface hoar. 50-80 cm. of recent storm snow and moderate to strong southwest winds formed widespread wind slabs over the weekend. These slabs may remain reactive to human triggers in areas where they are sitting on a second layer of small surface hoar down 40-60 cm. There is a crust from early November now down approximately 75-125 cm. This crust has been observed with sugary facets above and below it. It is most likely to be reactive to human triggers on south facing slopes and in shallow, rocky, snowpack areas in the alpine.

• Avoid exposure to overhead hazards when solar radiation is strong.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.