Avalanche Forecast

High -

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / Strong west winds / Low of -11 / Freezing level surface.

FRIDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm, and another 10-20 cm overnight / Strong west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level rising to 1300 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-5 cm / Moderate northwest wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 1300 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy / Light west wind / High of -6 / Freezing level valley bottom.

No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday.

A skier triggered size 1.5 wind slab was reported on a east aspect below a treeline ridgetop on Monday. The wind slab was sitting on a layer of recently buried surface hoar which resulted in wide propagation of the slab.

Riders may get surprised by widely propagating wind slabs that are sitting on crusts and/or surface hoar.

Recent west/northwest winds have formed wind slabs on lee features in the alpine. Below the recent snow, there may be a layer of small surface hoar that is likely most pronounced in shady or sheltered locations. Riders may be surprised by widely propagating wind slabs on steep and/or convex slopes where this surface hoar is present.

Sun crust on southerly aspects and temperature crust on all aspects below 1500 m.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with multiple crusts throughout. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
• Minimize your exposure time below cornices.