Northwest Coastal

Hazard may increase to moderate in localized alpine areas that receive more than 15 cm of new snow.

Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrests and in extreme terrain.

No new avalanches were reported in this region on Saturday. However, field observations are currently very limited in this region.

Please consider sharing your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

In localized areas that receive more than 15 cm of new snow, fresh wind slabs may form on lee features in the alpine.

A hard melt-freeze crust exists on the snow surface on sun-exposed slopes to the mountain tops. The crust will transition to wet snow with daytime warming and generally re-freeze at night.

Dry snow and small isolated wind slabs may still exist on shady slopes in the high alpine.

Cornices are large and may become weak with daytime warming.

Sunday night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 3 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.