Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Thursday night: Flurries bringing a trace. Strong northwest wind. Alpine temperatures around -6. Freezing level valley bottom.

Friday: Flurries bringing around 5 cm. Strong northwest wind. Alpine high temperatures around -5. Freezing level 1000 m.

Saturday: Up to 10 cm new snow. Strong southwest wind. Alpine high temperatures around -5. Freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday: 5-15 cm new snow. Moderate westerly wind. Alpine high temperatures around -10. Freezing 500 m.

Recent reports of avalanche activity have come almost exclusively from the southwest of the region. In the last few days, natural, explosive and skier triggered wind slab avalanches averaging size 2 have been reported on east to southeast aspects at treeline and alpine elevations. Below treeline, natural loose wet and wet slab avalanches around size 2 are suspected to have run during the storm Tuesday night. Explosive control work on Wednesday produced loose wet and wet slab results size 1-1.5 below 1000 m.

15-20 cm of recent snow has seen widespread wind effect in exposed alpine terrain with pockets of wind slab in lee features. Below 1300 m the surface is crusty and/or moist depending on elevation and time of day. Between these wind- and temperature-affected elevations, soft snow may be found in sheltered areas around treeline.

Buried 50-90 cm deep, a layer of spotty surface hoar crystals may exist on sheltered north aspects as well as a melt-freeze crust on south aspects and below 1450 m. Recent observations suggest warm temperatures have aided bonding at this interface. 

The mid and lower snowpack is reported as well settled and strong in most areas. However, weak facets exist at the base of the snowpack in the more shallow snowpack zones within much of the region and always have the potential of being triggered on steep, rocky slopes with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack; especially with large loads such as a cornice fall.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.