Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to variable weather conditions on Sunday

SUNDAY: Light precipitation with light winds from the west. Temperatures dropping to -15 degrees celsius. MONDAY: Light precipitation with continued cold temperatures. Winds moderate from the west. TUESDAY: Continued light precipitation and cold temperatures.

Recent reports indicate a rider triggered size 2.5 cornice failure on a northeast aspect stepping down to ground in a thin snowpack area. This cornice pulled back to the ridge line. Other reports indicate natural avalanches running to size 2 on northerly aspects in the alpine.

15-30cm of dry new snow combined with wind has encouraged additional slab development and cornice growth. This new snow now sits on a variety of surfaces (facets, surface hoar in sheltered areas, wind crust, soft slabs and hard slabs).A weak graupel and/or stellar layer down 25-30cm appears to have been the culprit in recent wind slab avalanche activity. Avalanche professionals are gaining confidence in the mid-December persistent weakness, now down 100-180cm, but concern remains for heavy triggers, such as cornice drops on steep unsupported slopes. When this persistent weaknesses is combined with weak wind slabs, thin trigger points, and a variety of other buried weaknesses the result is a highly variable snowpack with the potential for step-down deep slab avalanches.