Avalanche Forecast

No new avalanches reported. Please remember there are few eyes still out there regularly reporting field observations.

Expect Storm Slab or Wind Slab avalanches on Monday where more than 20 cm of new snow accumulates. At low elevations avalanche activity is likely to increase as low elevation snow becomes saturated by rain.

Snow continues to accumulate at high elevations. Generally this recent snow is settling and bonding about as fast as more arrives. However, heavy localized snow could mean accumulations greater than 30 mm water equivalent (30 cm) in some valleys (but generally only 10 to 20 mm in the region as a whole. Storm slabs may develop in favoured snow holes. Windslabs are possible in immediate lee features.

On solar aspects at all elevations, and north aspects at treeline and low elevations, there are many crusts in the upper snowpack. Watch for this snow sitting on a slippery crust. Watch for the snow quickly loosing strength and loose wet avalanches when the sun pokes out.

At mid and high elevations the middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong. A weak layer of facets at the base of the snowpack remains a concern, primarily in alpine terrain with shallow or variable (thick and thin) snowpack depths but also where there's overhead hazard (for example from cornices).

At low elevations the snowpack is generally melting away; however avalanche danger can exist from overhead hazards (avalanches starting from up high above near the peaks) or melting (warm temps, sunshine, rain).

Sunday Overnight

Cloudy. Precipitation 5 to 10 mm falling as snow in the alpine, rain down low, and sloppy snow in between. Light winds. Treeline temperatures around zero and freezing level around 1500 m.

Monday

Mostly cloudy. Trace to 5 mm water equivalent of precipitation (rain low, sloppy snow around treeline, snow alpine). Freezing level remaining between 1500 to 2000m. Treeline temperature around zero. Light westerly wind.

Tuesday

Generally clearing up and drying out kind of day. Trace to 5 mm water equivalent of precipitation. Ridgetop wind light but gusting moderate from the west. Around -5 C at treeline with freezing level around 1500 m.

Wednesday

Mix of sunshine with cloud arriving in the afternoon and precipitation starting up. A trace to 5 mm of water equivalent of preciptiation. Moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 2000 m, treeline temperature around zero.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
• Shooting cracks, whumphs and recent avalanches are strong indicators of an unstable snowpack.
• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Investigate the bond of the recent snow before committing to your line.
• In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.