Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

On Thursday several natural and ski cut loose wet avalanches were triggered in the area near Big White.

Looking forward, we expect that natural avalanches will be likely, and human-triggered avalanches will be very likely.

If you are getting out in the backcountry, consider making a post on the MIN (Mountain Information Network). You can share riding conditions, avalanche or snowpack observations, or even just a photo or two.

During the day, frozen and crusty surface snow will melt and turn moist or slushy due to high freezing levels combined with intense sun. This will be especially prevalent on sunny slopes and at lower elevations. This will cause the avalanche hazard to rise as the day warms. High elevation shady north-facing slopes may still have some dry snow.

A widespread crust is buried 40-90 cm. In some areas, a weak layer of facets can be found above. Recent tests suggested this layer was gaining strength, and no recent avalanche activity had been reported. However, we expect the warm weather to destabilize the snowpack, and this layer could become active again. 

The snowpack below this crust is strong and well-bonded.

Friday Night

Clear. No new snow expected. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to 0 °C. Freezing level around 3100 m with a potential temperature inversion below 1500 m.

Saturday

Sunny. No new snow expected. 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 3400 m. Treeline high around 12 °C.

Sunday

Sunny. No new snow expected. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 3200 m. Treeline high around 12 °C.

Monday

Mostly sunny. No new snow expected. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 3100 m. Treeline high around 12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Be aware that wet activity at low elevations is a classic situation for step-down failures in deeply buried persistent weak layers.