Avalanche Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: 2-5 cm snow, light west wind, alpine temperature -9 C, freezing level below valley bottom.

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy with possible flurries; 0-5 cm, light southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 400 m

TUESDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm, moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 600 m.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy, light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level rising to 1200 m.

On Saturday the new snow was reported as being reactive to skier traffic as a very thin soft slab, especially in wind affected terrain. These slabs will become increasingly touchy as the new snow stacks up and settles into a cohesive slab.

15-30 cm of recent snow has buried a widespread layer of surface hoar (size 5-15 mm.). This layer exists on all aspects and elevations except for steep solar aspects where it was melted by sun and formed a crust. Surface hoar sitting on a thin sun crust may exist on lower angle solar aspects which is a particularly nasty combination. The new snow will likely become increasingly reactive to human triggers as it stacks up and settles into a cohesive slab. The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong.

• Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
• Be aware of the potential for larger than expected storm slabs due to the presence of buried surface hoar.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and wind exposure.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.