Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

No new avalanches were observed at the time of writing Sunday.

On Saturday, skiers in the Ferris Glacier area remote-triggered a wind slab 60 cm deep on NE alpine terrain.

On Friday, skiers remote triggered a wind slab possibly on a thin sun crust, on St. Nicholas size 2.5 that stepped down to deeper layers and occurred on steep, unsupported terrain.

10-20 cm of dry snow overlays crusts found in most locations, with up to 60 cm on north-facing alpine zones. Windslabs can be found on lee aspects in the alpine.

A weak layer of facets that lies below a generally stiff midpack is much less of a concern in this deeper snowpack region. On all but high north aspects, crusts in the upper snowpack overlay this midpack slab. If these crusts are thick, and remain frozen, they provide some strength over the weakness.

Clearing overnight Sunday with treeline temperatures dropping to -10°C while W/NW winds diminish to light.

Monday, a mix of sun and cloud as the freezing levels rise to 2400 m. Significant solar effects are likely. West to southwest winds increase to moderate. Overnight temperatures at treeline will drop to -7°C.

• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation, aspect, and exposure to wind.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.