Avalanche Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 2 cm, 10 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 1000 m.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 2 cm, 20 km/h north wind, treeline temperature -1 C, freezing level 1100 m.

WEDNESDAY: Clear skies with no precipitation, 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -6 C.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, 30 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -6 C.

Many small wet loose avalanches were observed on sun-exposed slopes during the relatively warm and sunny weekend. Avalanche activity is expected to quiet down as the weather cools and the snowpack hardens. Avalanche activity is unlikely anywhere a hard melt-freeze crust is on the surface.

A dusting of snow will fall onto a hard melt-freeze crust. The crust is thickest at low elevations and likely thins as you move higher and onto shady aspects. The crust may not exist on the highest of mountains on north aspects.

At higher elevations, a weak layer may be found around 30 to 60 cm deep, composed of sugary faceted snow above a melt-freeze crust. Check out this forecaster blog for more info. Recent reports suggest that this layer is dormant.

The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.

• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.