Avalanche Forecast

Another day of clear weather before a low pressure system brings cooling and clouds on Sunday.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, light north wind, freezing level drops to 1000 m, alpine temperatures drop to -6 C.

SATURDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, moderate north wind, freezing level climbing to 2000 m in the afternoon, alpine high temperatures around 0 C.

SUNDAY: Increasing clouds throughout the day, light to moderate west wind, freezing level climbing to 1500 m in the afternoon, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

MONDAY: Periods of snow with accumulations of 5-15 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing level around 1000 m, alpine temperatures around -5 C.

Warm sunny weather over the past few days has resulted in small wet loose avalanches (size 1-1.5) on south-facing slopes, especially in steep rocky terrain. See the photo in this MIN report for an example.

Looking forward, daily warming will likely cause more wet loose avalanches and potentially weaken cornices. If you decide to travel in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Surface conditions are highly variable with a mix of crusts, moist snow, hard wind slabs, and soft faceted snow. The surface will become moist on sun-exposed slopes and at lower elevations throughout the day. The snowpack is generally strong and settled, with the exception of some areas in the eastern and northern parts of the region that have weak faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. However, this layer is considered dormant and has not produced an avalanche since Feb 20.

• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.