Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, alpine temperature -10 C.FRIDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine temperature -10 C.SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, light to moderate west wind, alpine temperature -16 C.SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, light north wind, alpine temperature -23 C.

Many large avalanches were triggered naturally, by explosives, and by skiers and sledders on Wednesday. The avalanches were generally within the recent storm snow, around 30 to 60 cm deep, and at treeline and alpine elevations.

More snowfall is expected Thursday night into Friday, with total amounts uncertain but could be upwards of 20 cm or more. The snow may have slab properties where it falls with wind and could be low-density and loose in sheltered areas. This new snow will overly around 20 to 40 cm of recent snowfall, which sits on a variety of surfaces, including wind-affected snow in exposed areas and a layer of weak and feathery surface hoar crystals in sheltered and shaded areas. Below 1700 m, recent snowfall overlies a melt-freeze crust.The mid-January layer of surface hoar or a crust is buried around 50 to 80 cm. The surface hoar is found on shaded and sheltered slopes and is most prominent between 1600 m and 1900 m but has been found up to 2200 m. The melt-freeze crust is found on south aspects at all elevations.The middle of the snowpack is generally consolidated. The bottom half of the snowpack is unconsolidated and composed of weak and sugary faceted grains.