Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

Freezing levels will drop faster and cooler in the Northern half of the region. 

Tuesday Night: 10 – 15 mm of precipitation falling as snow in the alpine and rain at lower elevations. Freezing levels dropping to 900 m with alpine temperatures near -3. Ridgetop wind remains strong from the southwest.

Wednesday: 10-15 mm of precipitation and freezing levels dropping to 800 m. Alpine temperatures near -2. Ridgetop wind strong from the southwest.

Thursday: Snow 10-20 cm. freezing levels 300 m and alpine temperatures near -7. Ridgetop wind strong from the southwest. 

Natural avalanche activity will likely continue with more snow and strong southwest wind on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday morning several size 2 storm slabs were reported. They ran naturally during the storm.

Over the weekend, several large natural storm slabs (size 2-3) were reported in the last 24 hours in the alpine as well as some small wet snow avalanches near the rain line.

Strong southwest wind and 30-60 cm of recent storm snow fell at upper elevations building new and reactive storm slabs. This new snow sits on buried wind slabs in the alpine. Lower elevation snow became moist with the rain, however; with freezing levels falling by Tuesday night (400 m- 700 m) a crust will likely form. 

Treeline snowpack depths are estimated to be around 200-300 cm and a prominent crust can be found near the base of the snowpack. 

In the Northern part of the region (Bear Pass) two weak layers of surface hoar have been reported in sheltered areas at treeline.  

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Avoid the runout zones of avalanche paths. Avalanches could run full path.
• The new snow may require another day to settle and stabilize.