Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to variable snowpack conditions

Tuesday: Expect cloudy skies with a chance of flurries, light southwesterly winds and alpine temperatures reaching -7.Wednesday & Thursday: Light flurries linger with continued cloudy conditions. Light southerly winds persist with alpine temperatures reaching -7 each afternoon.

The region has seen a natural avalanche cycle. Natural slabs and cornice falls up to size 3.0 have been reported, predominantly on north-northeasterly terrain. Many loose wet avalanches up to size 2.0 have occurred below treeline, where the recent precipitation fell as rain. Both explosive and rider controlled avalanches have also been observed, predominantly in wind loaded areas.

The recent storm has past, bringing cooler temperatures and a lull in precipitation. In some areas, as much as 75-100cm of new snow fell. Below 1000m, much of the precipitation fell as rain. The tail of the storm brought strong southwest winds, giving intense snow transport and cornice growth. Extensive windslabbing in lee zones and behind ridges in the alpine and treeline will be the result, and large cornice failures are inevitable.At lower elevations the snow in moist as deep as 50cm. The cooling temperatures will have created a strong crust on the surface, but the weak, wet snow will take some time to settle and bond. A thin melt-freeze crust buried on Jan. 17 may prolong this issue.Lingering deeper sits a persistent weakness comprising of surface hoar and/or facets. Recent tests on this layer are showing both sudden and resistant planar results. We have also seen an extended column test at 30/100 (end) indicating the propensity for propagation if this layer were triggered. Keep these layers on your radar in regards to distribution and reactivity. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong, basal facets remain a concern in the northern part of the region.