Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Tuesday

We're moving into a weather pattern more in keeping with seasonal norms. Monday night's storm should offer a nice refresh at upper elevations and temperatures should remain cool(ish), at least through Wednesday morning.SUNDAY NIGHT: Gentle southeast breeze, freezing level holding around 1800 m, no significant precipitation expected.MONDAY: Broken cloud cover, light to moderate southeast wind, freezing level holding around 1800 m, no significant precipitation expected during the day. The freezing level drops to about 1500 m Monday night, further lowering to about 1000 m by dawn with 8 to 15 mm of precipitation expected. This will likely start as rain at lower/mid elevations and could produce as much as 10 to 15 cm of snow at upper elevations.TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, moderate southwest wind, freezing level holding around 1200 m, 4 to 8 cm of snow possible.WEDNESDAY: Clear skies, light southeast wind, freezing level rising to about 2000 m, no significant precipitation expected.

No new avalanches have been reported recently. The lack of avalanche observations is probably linked to a slight cooling trend and the fact that the riding quality is poor in most locations.

Snow surfaces are variable and the heat has likely eliminated any trace of cold snow except on high elevation north features. Melt-freeze conditions (more melt than freeze at lower elevations) exist on all other aspects and elevations. The current surface continues to produce snowballing, surface sluffing and loose wet avalanches.Deeper in the snowpack a layer of weak and sugary faceted grains sits on a melt-freeze crust about 50 to 120 cm deep. There have been no recent reports of avalanches nor activity on this layer in snowpack tests. The recent warm temperatures have probably helped this layer to heal significantly, the one place where it may still be a concern is high elevation north facing terrain.