Avalanche Forecast

Tuesday Night: Light snow amounts 5-10 cm. Ridgetop wind light to moderate from the South and freezing levels 1200 m. 

Wednesday: Snow amounts 15-25 cm. Ridgetop wind moderate from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -9 and freezing levels 1400 m. 

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries up to 5 cm. Ridgetop wind light from the southwest. Alpine temperatures near -12 and freezing levels 1200 m.

Friday: Snow 5-10 cm. Ridgetop wind moderate to strong from the South. Alpine temperatures near -10 and freezing levels 1200 m.

No new reports by early afternoon on Tuesday.

On Monday, reports from our Field team in the Dore river area noted evidence of wet loose avalanches up to size 2 and some cornice falls. One larger slab avalanche (several days old) size 2.5 was also seen on a steep East aspect in the alpine. 

New snow and wind may build fresh storm slabs on Wednesday. They may be more reactive in the afternoon as accumulations add up and on wind-loaded slopes. Natural loose-dry avalanches and sluffing will likely occur from steep slopes and terrain features.

It is important to remember to stay well back from ridgetops that might be corniced and to avoid slopes with overhead cornice exposure especially under the current conditions where recent rapid growth has made them large and fragile.

Winter weather returns with new snow accompanied by moderate wind through the forecast period. Expect storm slabs to build through the day on Wednesday and likely be more reactive on wind-loaded slopes. The new snow sits on a series of melt-freeze crusts on all aspects below 1900 m and southerly aspects to mountain top. On North aspects in the alpine, the new snow will sit on dry wintery snow surfaces forming fresh wind slabs. Below 1500 m a melt-freeze crust exists and the snowpack is quickly diminishing.Loose–dry sluffing will likely occur on steep slopes and terrain features where the new snow has a poor bond to the underlying old surfaces. 

The recent warm weather is expected to have helped old persistent weak layers heal, including a few crusts buried over the last month as well as a facet layer 150 cm deep from the mid-February cold snap.

• Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
• Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.