Avalanche Forecast

On Sunday an intentionally triggered slab was reported on at Fissile Peak on a northwest lee slope and ran on a crust layer. It's "real alpine terrain" and more wind slabs like this could easily be out there.

Please keep sharing your observations via the MIN; it helps strengthen our information gathering!

On steep south-facing slopes, a sun crust formed this past weekend and is now just below the surface. On shaded terrain at all elevations large surface hoar (up to 10 mm) and generally unconsolidated snow. The upper snowpack consists of 20-50 cm of light snow.

Down 40-60 cm in the snowpack, a thick melt-freeze crust is found up to 2200 meters. There's also a crust, with soft facets above. Professionals are concerned about the possibility of older wind slabs still releasing at this deeper interface.

Total snow depths remain low for early December with70 to 120 cm at treeline and up to 180 cm in the alpine. Much of the below treeline elevation band is below the threshold for avalanches.

An arctic ridge of high pressure continuesuntil the next pulse of snow expected Wednesday night.

Tuesday NightNo snow, light southwest wind, temperatures around -10 near treeline.

WednesdayDry with snow starting late in the afternoon as a system approaches. Temperatures around -5 C, Light to moderate westerly wind.

Snowy day with 20 to 30 cm accumulating by the end of the day under the influence of moderate to strong southwest wind. Temperatures around -5 C near treeline.

Storm winding down with an additional 5 to 10 cm of snow, slightly cooler temperatures, light to moderate southwest wind.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.