Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

THURSDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy / west winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine low temperature near -5 / freezing level 700 m / alpine temperature inversionFRIDAY - Mainly cloudy / northwest winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near 0 / freezing level 1500 m / alpine temperature inversionSATURDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods / west winds, 20-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near +5 / freezing level 3000 m SUNDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / northwest winds, 40-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near +2 / freezing level 2000 m / possible alpine temperature inversion

On Wednesday several natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2.5 were reported on north and east aspects in all elevation bands. There are two South Coast Inland MIN reports from Wednesday that outline some of this avalanche activity as well as some snowpack tests. (Steep Creek) (Reactive Surface Hoar)A few natural and human triggered avalanches to size 1.5 were reported in the region on Tuesday.

30-60 cm of recent storm snow is likely sitting on a sun crust on south facing slopes, a melt freeze crust below approximately 1700 m on all aspects, and surface hoar (feathery crystals) in areas sheltered from the wind at all elevations. The recent snow may not bond well to these weak layers. In some areas, another layer of surface hoar that was buried near the end of December is down approximately 60 to 120 cm in sheltered areas around treeline elevations. There have been no recent reports of avalanches on this layer, but a large trigger such as cornice fall may still have the potential to trigger avalanches on this layer.