Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

A ridge of high pressure dominates for the next several days.  A mix of sun and cloud is expected on Wednesday with light alpine winds from the west.  Freezing levels are expected to drop below valley bottom overnight and reach around 1500m in the afternoon.  Mostly sunny conditions are expected for Thursday with light westerly winds and freezing levels reaching around 1800m in the afternoon.  Mostly sunny conditions are expected on Friday with moderate southwest winds in the alpine and freezing levels reaching well over 2000m.

One Monday, two size 2.5 cornice releases were reported from north aspects.  Reports from Sunday are limited, but include a couple of skier-controlled storm and wind slabs avalanches up to Size 1.5, and numerous natural 15cm deep wind slab avalanches up to Size 2 on leeward and cross-loaded features.

About 40-60 cm of snow fell over the past week. You may find a wind-affected surface in exposed terrain, or a sun crust/moist snow on solar aspects depending on the time of day. Below the storm snow you are likely to find a melt-freeze crust. This crust exists in most places except for higher elevation shaded terrain. In many areas there seems to be a reasonable bond between the crust and the overlying snow. I'd still keep an eye on this interface as it has become reactive on some features. Surface hoar buried in early January now lies up to 180cm below the surface and has become less of a concern. Possible triggers for this deep and destructive layer include a large cornice fall or significant warming from periods of strong solar radiation.