Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

  

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing skies / Moderate to strong, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine low temperature -12 / Freezing level valley bottom.

TUESDAY: Sunny / Light to moderate, northwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature -3 / Above freezing layer of air moving in late afternoon and creating a strong temperature inversion with warm air above roughly 2000 m.

WEDNESDAY: Sunny / Light, south ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +1 / Strong inversion with an above freezing layer of air above 2000 m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, southwest ridgetop wind / alpine high temperature +1 / Strong inversion with an above freezing layer of air above 2000 m.

There have been very few reports of avalanches in the region, however, observations are very limited at this time. 

Several recent MIN reports from neighboring Glacier National Park have reported human triggered avalanches on small surface hoar below the recent storm snow.

If you get out into the mountains, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network!

10 cm of new snow and moderate northwest winds on Monday night may create fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above. Recent strong southwest winds created wind slabs that are still lingering on lee features at treeline and above. These wind slabs may be surprisingly reactive in areas where they are sitting on a layer of small surface hoar. There are a couple of crusts in the mid snowpack, from mid and early November. The most prominent of these is from early November, and it has been reported that there are weak, sugary facets above and below this crust. It is down approximately 70-100 cm, and is most likely to be reactive to human triggers on south facing slopes and in shallow, rocky, snowpack areas in the alpine.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
• Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.