Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Sunday

SUNDAY: snow overnight with flurries continuing through the day, up to 20cm expected for coastal areas and around 15cm for inland regions, moderate southerly winds, 1000m freezing level. MONDAY: flurries continue with accumulations of up to 10cm possible, light to moderate southwesterly winds, 800m freezing level. TUESDAY: Light snow with another 10cm possible before clearing, light easterly winds, 1000m freezing level.

Widespread avalanche activity was reported on Thursday with numerous natural and artificially controlled avalanches up to size two at all elevations. Wind slabs, storm slabs and cornice releases were reported at alpine and treeline elevations while several glide cracks and large loose wet avalanches released bellow treeline. On Wednesday a couple of very large wind slab avalanches are suspected to have run on the early February crust in the bear pass highway corridor.

Recent snow has been heaviest in the north of the region, creating storm and wind slabs. Up to 30cm of new snow now sits above old wind effected snow, a crust on sunny aspects or surface hoar in isolated sheltered and shady locations. Previous strong winds created widespread wind slabs and wind pressed surfaces at alpine and treeline elevations. An old crust buried around February 12th that extends up to about 2000m can now be found down 60-80cm. A layer of surface hoar buried late in January remains a lingering concern in the far North of the region.