MODERATE avalanche danger will exist in near and above treeline areas due to lingering wind slabs.  LOW avalanche danger will be in below treeline areas.  Early season conditions exist with a thin snowpack and numerous exposed and barely covered obstacles. 

Warming temperatures, intense snow and rain, and strong winds have resulted in HIGH avalanche danger in near and above treeline terrain and CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger in below treeline terrain. The backcountry will hold a complex mix of wind slab, storm slab, and loose wet avalanche problems today.

Dangerous avalanche activity is very likely today. Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.   

MODERATE Avalanche Danger will exist in near and above treeline areas due to wind slabs.  Early season conditions with a thin snowpack and obstacles are present throughout the forecast region.

 

Early season conditions update #2

The stage is set for the approaching storm system. At this time avalanche risk within the forecast area remains minimal. Avalanche danger will begin to increase following the onset of new snowfall Tuesday afternoon/evening. The first full avalanche forecast for this season is planned for Wednesday morning (Nov 27 at 7 am).

Pre Season Continues

We are in the process of getting the SAC forecasting program back up and running for the season. We will be ready when the snow flies.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists from the start today due to poor conditions for snow surface refreeze last night. A loose wet avalanche problem is expected at all elevations today.

LOW avalanche danger will exist at all elevations while the snow surface remains frozen this morning. The avalanche danger will quickly increase to MODERATE and loose wet avalanches will become possible as the day warms up. 

New snow overnight along with strong winds will continue through the morning.  MODERATE avalanche danger will exist today due to wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems.

LOW avalanche danger will transition to MODERATE avalanche danger at all elevations today in response to daytime warming. As last night's snow surface refreeze becomes unsupportable, a loose wet avalanche problem will develop at all elevations.

LOW avalanche danger will exist this morning while the snow surface remains frozen and firm. As the day warms up and the frozen snow starts to soften and melt, the avalanche danger may increase to MODERATE. Some loose wet avalanche problems could become possible if enough daytime warming occurs. 

Sunny conditions are expected for today.  LOW avalanche danger this morning will increase to MODERATE avalanche danger as daytime warming occurs due to a loose wet avalanche problem. 

MODERATE avalanche danger continues today at all elevations due to an ongoing loose wet avalanche problem. Unstable surface wet snow is expected all day today due to poor overnight refreeze and warm air temperatures.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist at all elevations today as daytime warming and potential rain on snow allow loose wet avalanches to become possible. Small wind slab problems may also exist on some exposed slopes in near and above treeline terrain. 

The avalanche danger remains MODERATE for all elevations. Daytime warming and a weak overnight refreeze make loose wet avalanches an ongoing problem. Some lingering wind slab problems may still exist at the upper elevations. 

Rain and snow will impact our forecast area today.  MODERATE avalanche danger will exist due to wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems.  Human triggered avalanches will be possible.

LOW avalanche danger early this morning will increase to MODERATE avalanche danger at all elevations as the day progresses. A loose wet avalanche problem will develop in response to daytime warming.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist at all elevations today. Enough daytime warming should occur for loose wet avalanche problems to form and some lingering wind slab problems still exist. Human triggered avalanches remain possible today.

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will exist at all elevations due to wind slab, storm slab, and loose wet avalanche problems.  A storm will bring heavy snow to our forecast area today and tonight.  Human triggered avalanches are likely with natural triggered avalanches possible.

MODERATE avalanche danger at all elevations today due to the possibility of loose wet avalanches and unlikely wind slab avalanches.

LOW avalanche danger exists in sheltered areas and in below treeline terrain. In more exposed near and above treeline areas, MODERATE avalanche danger may form due to some possible wind slab avalanche problems.

MODERATE avalanche danger may still exist in near and above treeline terrain due to the possibility of lingering wind slab problems. Human triggered avalanches may remain possible today. 

LOW avalanche danger this morning will transition to MODERATE avalanche danger as daytime warming occurs.  A loose wet avalanche problem will be possible at all elevations today. 

LOW avalanche danger early this morning will give way to MODERATE avalanche danger at all elevations today as a loose wet avalanche problem develops in response to rapid daytime warming.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations today mainly due to loose wet avalanche problems. An unlikely but not impossible wind slab problem may still linger in some isolated places as well.

MODERATE avalanche danger will continue due to a wind slab avalanche problem in near and above treeline areas.  LOW avalanche danger exists in below treeline terrain.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist due to wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems at all elevations.  Human triggered avalanches remain possible today.

The avalanche danger remains MODERATE in near and above treeline terrain due to the possibility of lingering wind slab avalanche problems. Human-triggered avalanches large enough to have consequences may remain possible in some areas. 

MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations today due to wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems. Human-triggered avalanches large enough to have consequences remain possible today. If the clouds part today, the strong March sunshine could exacerbate the existing avalanche problems and could allow wet snow instabilities to form. 

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist due to wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems as another warm storm impacts our forecast area starting this afternoon.  Human triggered avalanche activity remains possible.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists at all elevations today due to wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist at all elevations with wind slab and loose wet avalanche problems.  Periods of intense sunshine along with rapid warming could increase the amount of avalanche activity today.  Avalanche danger is expected to rise tomorrow as another storm impacts our forecast area.

HIGH avalanche danger continues in near treeline and above treeline areas due to a wind slab avalanche problem. CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger continues below treeline due to a storm slab avalanche problem and isolated wind slabs. Natural and human triggered avalanche activity is expected. Travel in near treeline and above treeline avalanche terrain is not recommended.

A major Pacific storm will impact our forecast region tonight through Thursday.  HIGH avalanche danger will exist at all elevations throughout the night due to wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems.  Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist due to a wind slab avalanche problem in near and above treeline terrain.  Human triggered wind slab avalanches will be possible today.  Low avalanche danger will continue in below treeline areas.

A few areas of MODERATE avalanche danger linger near treeline and above treeline due to small wind slabs. Below treeline, LOW avalanche danger continues.

MODERATE avalanche danger still exists near and above treeline due to the potential for lingering wind slabs in some terrain. Below treeline the avalanche danger is LOW.

MODERATE avalanche danger will exist due to wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems.  Human triggered avalanches remain possible at all elevations.

HIGH avalanche danger continues for another 24 hours at all elevations. Travel in or below avalanche terrain is not recommended. Maintain awareness of your location relative to avalanche terrain and keep a wide margin for error. Remain clear of avalanche runout zones.

HIGH avalanche danger exists at all elevations. Dangerous and complex avalanche conditions exist. Natural avalanches are likely and human-triggered avalanches are very likely. Large destructive avalanches could occur. Travel in, near or below avalanche terrain is not recommended. Rain on snow could also cause dangerous roof-avalanches under roofs that have not already unloaded.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists in near and above treeline terrain due to wind slab avalanche problems. Human-triggered avalanches will remain possible today. Expect avalanche conditions to become more complex and dangerous as a winter storm arrives tomorrow.  

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger will exist today due to wind slab and storm slab avalanche problems.  Dangerous avalanche conditions are expected.  Human and natural triggered avalanches could occur at all elevations today.  

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists today in near treeline and above treeline areas due to a wind slab avalanche problem. MODERATE avalanche danger exists below treeline due to possible storm slabs. Please note that this advisory is valid for 12 hours. The next update to this advisory will occur at 7 pm this evening. Increasing avalanche danger is expected tonight.

MODERATE avalanche danger exists in near and above treeline terrain due to some lingering wind slabs. The avalanche danger is LOW below treeline. Human-triggered avalanches may remain possible today.

CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists at all elevations due to widespread wind slabs and some storm slabs. Large human-triggered avalanches could occur today. More avalanche fatalities occur at the CONSIDERABLE danger rating than at higher danger ratings.

HIGH avalanche danger will continue as the next storm impacts the forecast region today and through tonight.  Very dangerous avalanche conditions will exist.  Travel in or near avalanche terrain is not recommended.

LOW avalanche danger will occur for most of today at all elevations. Following the onset of precipitation, the trend of increasing avalanche danger will begin with MODERATE avalanche danger forming tonight as wind slabs develop near treeline and above treeline. An avalanche watch has been issued for expected periods of HIGH avalanche danger Saturday morning into Tuesday morning.

LOW avalanche danger exists at all elevations. Continue to use normal caution while traveling in the backcountry.

LOW avalanche danger continues throughout the forecast region.  Normal caution is advised at all elevations.