Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Due to the number of field observations

Tonight and Tuesday: Clear and cold. Expect mountaintop temperatures to dip to -20 or -25 overnight. Ridgetop winds are moderate to strong from the Northwest-Northeast. Outlook: Continued cold and clear weather should be the story all week. Alpine temperatures should hover between -20 and -30, and winds should remain moderate from the North-Northeast.

No recent avalanches have been reported but incoming field data is still very limited. Watch for new touchy wind slabs to form on South and West aspects in response to cold outflow winds.

Variable snowpack depths are being reported across the region but typically 30-60 cm of storm snow has fallen on approximately 1m of old, well-settled snow. The new storm slab will increase in reactivity and destructive potential as it deepens or in areas where it has been redistributed and compressed by wind. The storm slabs overlay a variety of old snow surfaces including (1) winds slabs and wind scoured areas in the alpine and exposed areas at treeline, (2) sun crusts on steep south facing slopes, and (3) surface hoar in sheltered areas around treeline elevation and below.There are still two layers of concern within the mid/lower snowpack: the early November surface hoar is down roughly half way (70-90cm) and the October rain crust is near the ground. While these layers have recently become dormant, the weight of the new storm snow may cause these layers to reactivate in isolated areas causing large, destructive avalanches. The October crust can be found in the alpine on north aspects (likely east and west as well). The early November surface hoar appears to be spotty and drainage specific.