Avalanche Forecast

No new avalanches have been reported since last week.

Generally, spring is advancing and the winter snowpack is melting away, at least at lower elevations.

Dry, powder snow likely remains at higher elevations on north-facing terrain, along with potential for fresh wind and storm slabs. While melt-freeze crusts or moist snow are likely to be found on steep solar slopes and at lower elevations.

Avalanche danger will be closely coupled to daytime warming and melting. The more the crust weakens, and the deeper the wetness goes, the greater the hazard from wet loose avalanches.

The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled. In some areas, the lower snowpack may have a layer of weak facets near the ground.

Wednesday night

Mostly clear. Light south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures 0 to -5 C.

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud. Mostly light south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing levels around 1800 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. Light south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures around 0 C. Freezing levels around 1800 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with trace amounts of snow. Moderate south ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
• Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.