Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

High pressure is the dominant feature for the foreseeable future. In the alpine, sunny conditions are expected for the next few days but most of the valleys will likely to be under valley fog. On Thursday, treeline temperatures will be around -5C with colder temperatures in the valleys. Alpine winds may be moderate from NE in the morning and could be moderate from the SW the end of the day. On Friday, a layer of above freezing air is expected to invade the alpine. By Saturday, temperatures could be a few degrees above zero from around 2000m to 3000m elevation. On both Friday and Saturday, alpine winds should be light and above the valley fog the conditions should be clear and sunny.

On Monday, a skier triggered a size 1 soft slab on a NW aspect and a size 2 glide slab release was observed at 1200 m. On Tuesday, several size 1 wind slabs were ski cut on SE through SW aspects in the alpine.  This were typically soft slabs 5-30cm thick.  Progressive warming in the alpine with ongoing sunny conditions should result in ongoing loose natural avalanches from south-facing slopes and by the weekend may create slab properties within the recent storm snow.

Hard and soft wind slabs may be found on any recently wind-affected terrain, especially at alpine and treeline elevations. 40-70 cm recent dry snowfall overlies a mid- and lower snowpack which are reportedly well settled. There may be some storm snow interfaces to watch in specific areas. Storm slab properties may also change as the alpine gets some sun and temperatures rise. The early December weak layer (about a metre down) is now hard to find and unlikely to be triggered, except with a very heavy trigger. At the base of the snowpack, on high north aspects, basal facets overlie glacial ice.