Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

The stormy conditions have proved a widespread and ongoing natural avalanche cycle up to size 3. Many of these avalanches have been reported as wind, storm and persistent slabs at upper elevations and wet loose at lower elevations.

We suspect natural activity will continue on Friday. Leading into the weekend, natural avalanches may taper, but conditions could remain primed for human triggering.

Over the past few days strong southerly winds and up to 60 cm of new snow hit the region. Wind-transported snow has likely built deeper slabs on northerly aspects at upper elevations. Lower elevation snow may be crusty as freezing levels fall.

The upper metre of the snowpack is complicated. This snow sits above several significant weak layers that formed during the January and February dry spells. These include facets, surface hoar (in sheltered terrain), and crust on solar aspects. These layers are currently reactive.

Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets and a crust from early December varies in depth from 100 to 300 cm. This layer also remains a concern in this region.

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with sunny periods. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -2. Freezing level 1100 m.

Sunday

Sunny by the afternoon. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures -4. Freezing level 800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
• Keep in mind that human triggering may persist as natural avalanches taper off.
• Stick to non-avalanche terrain or small features with limited consequence.