Avalanche Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies with isolated flurries bringing trace amounts of snow, light wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures drop to -10 C.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, no significant precipitation, light wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures reach -5 C with freezing level climbing to 1200 m.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, light wind from the north, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind from the north, treeline temperatures around -10 C.

There have been limited observations over the past few days due to poor weather. Some small (size 1) slab and loose avalanches were reported at lower elevations on Monday and a larger (size 2) wind slab was triggered by a rider on a northeast aspect at 1900 m near Valemount on Sunday. Recent snow should stabilize relatively quickly, with the possible exception of wind loaded slopes at higher elevations.

Recent storm snow has likely settled into 10 to 30 cm of heavy powder at upper elevations and wet/crusty snow below 1500 m. It sits above a variety of hard layers, including wind-affected snow on alpine slopes and a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, and possibly some feathery surface hoar in sheltered terrain. The lower snowpack is generally well settled, with prominent crust layers 40 to 100 cm deep. Around Blue River there have been reports of surface hoar crystals around these crusts, but there has been minimal evidence that these layers could still produce avalanches.

• If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.
• Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Caution around convexities or sharp changes in terrain.