Today, the avalanche danger above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE on wind loaded terrain and MODERATE elsewhere. 4-9 inches of light snow is not a large load to the snowpack, but the spotty presence of deeper weak layers across our area along with new snow and wind requires careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-finding. Pay attention to recently wind-loaded slopes as well as areas where weak snow deeper in the snowpack can be more easily triggered. See Swan Range advisory.

Today, the avalanche danger above 5000 feet is MODERATE where human triggerred avalanches are possible.  Pay attention to recently wind-loaded slopes where lingering wind slabs may exist as well as areas where weak snow deeper in the snowpack can more easily be triggered. Below 5000 feet all slopes are rated at LOW danger. Treat recent wind loaded terrain as suspect and carefully evaluate the snow pack and terrain before commiting to any slope. 

Today, the avalanche danger above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and all slopes steeper than 35º. At mid-elevations the danger is MODERATE and lower elevations are rated at LOW danger. New snow accompanied by moderate winds Saturday night/Sunday morning formed fresh wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in steep and wind loaded terrain, cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential while traveling at upper elevations. 

Today, the avalanche danger above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and all slopes steeper than 35º. At mid-elevations the danger is MODERATE and lower elevations are rated at LOW danger. New snow accompanied by moderate winds Saturday night/Sunday morning formed fresh wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in steep and wind loaded terrain, cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential while traveling at upper elevations. 

Today, the avalanche danger above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and all slopes steeper than 35º. In other terrain the danger is MODERATE.  New snow accompanied by moderate winds overnight formed fresh wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in steep and wind loaded terrain, cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential while traveling at upper elevations. 

The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 5000 feet. Human triggered avalanches are possible, particularly on recently wind loaded slopes and in steep terrain with shallow snow. Due to the limited data in the alpine, keep in mind that you may encounter areas of higher hazard than expected. Carefully evaluate the snow pack and terrain before commiting to any slope.

The avalanche danger is MODERATE above 5000 feet. Human triggered avalanches are possible, particularly on recently wind loaded slopes and in steep terrain with shallow snow. Due to the limited data in the alpine, keep in mind that you may encounter areas of higher hazard than expected. Carefully evaluate the snow pack and terrain before commiting to any slope.

The danger on wind loaded slopes above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE, and human triggered avalanches are likely. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-founding are essential. The danger on all other slopes is MODERATE. A bit of new snow on the rain crust and prior strong southwest winds created wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes and gullies. Most of these slopes are confined to above 6500 feet, but treat all wind loaded slopes as suspect prior to traveling on them. 

The danger on wind loaded slopes above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE, and human triggered avalanches are likely. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-founding are essential in these areas. The danger on all other slopes is MODERATE where triggering an avalanche is possible. Strong southwest winds created wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes and gullies. Most of these slopes are confined to above 6000 feet, but treat all wind loaded slopes as suspect prior to traveling on them. 

The danger on wind loaded slopes above 6000 feet is CONSIDERABLE, and human triggered avalanches are likely. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route-founding are essential in these areas. The danger on all other slopes is MODERATE where triggering an avalanche is possible. Strong southwest winds created wind slabs on leeward and cross-loaded slopes and gullies. Most of these slopes are confined to above 6000 feet, but treat all wind loaded slopes as suspect prior to traveling on them. 

AVALANCHE WARNING.  Above 6000' the avalanche danger is HIGH.  Recent substantial rain has put a lot of weight onto a shallow weak snowpack over a very short time span.  Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended. We will either continue or let the warning expire by 7:00 am tomorrow.

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today and will further deteriorate into tomorrow. The new snow and rain from this storm is falling on a weak snowpack. Heavy, wet snow, rising temperatures, and rain will cause the stability to decrease. We have very limited observations, but this storm is likely to tip the balance of our current weak snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible to likely today. 

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today and will further deteriorate into tomorrow. The new snow and rain from this storm is falling on a weak snowpack. Heavy, wet snow, rising temperatures, and rain will cause the stability to decrease. We have very limited observations, but this storm is likely to tip the balance of our current weak snowpack. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible to likely today. 

We picked up an additional 1-6 inches of snow in the past 24 hours, just enough to cover weak snow surfaces that have formed during the recent cold, dry spell. A shallow, early season snowpack still exists across most of the area, but pay attention to how the snowpack develops ahead of the next storm. Continue to carry avalanche safety gear, practice using it, and follow the safe travel technique that you would mid-winter.