Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

The ridge of high pressure will continue to bring dry conditions until Wednesday at which point the region will see light to moderate snowfall. Winds are expected to remain generally light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures are expected to hover around 4.0 on Monday and Tuesday dropping to -5.0 on Wednesday.

Recent observations mostly involve snowballing and wet loose sluffs to size 2 on sun-exposed slopes. Ongoing wet loose avalanche activity is quite likely with forecast warm temperatures.

Above freezing temperatures at higher elevations have caused snow surfaces to moisten on sun-exposed slopes; however, a nightly crust recovery is likely with forecast clear skies. The surface snow on northerly aspects is dry and wind-pressed with continued surface hoar growth at lower elevations. 40-80 cm below the surface is a persistent weakness of buried surface hoar. No recent activity has been reported on this layer, but human triggering may be possible in isolated terrain, particularly with forecast warm temperatures. Near the base of the snowpack, a crust/facet layer exists, which is now unlikely to be triggered, except perhaps by intense warming or by heavy triggers in steep, shallow, rocky terrain where more facetting has taken place.