Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain on Monday

The big story for the forecast period is an intense frontal system lined-up to hit the Coast on Monday night. WInds will be in the strong to extreme range with heavy snow accumulations. Tuesday: light snowfall - strong south winds decreasing to moderate throughout the day - freezing level at 1100m Wednesday: very light snowfall - light southwest winds - freezing levels at 1100m Thursday: Mix of sun and cloud as a clearing trend develops - light north winds - freezing level at 1200m

On Sunday, numerous natural windslabs to size 1.5 were observed at treeline and above in the Duffey Lake area. With weather forecast for Monday night, expect widespread windslab and storm slab avalanche activity with potential to involve the deeper March 26th layer.

Recent light snow accumulations add to the 40-70cm of snow that fell over the past week. Winds have mostly been moderate with strong gusts forming windslabs in lee locations. The past week's snowfall overlies an interface that was buried on March 26. This interface consists of a crust that exists on all aspects and elevations except north facing slopes at treeline and above where small surface hoar (5mm) may be found. The bonds between the new snow and the March 26th interface have been weak, especially in locations where the surface hoar is present. In the north of the region, persistent early February layers linger deeper in the snowpack and remain a concern with heavy triggers and rapid loading. Cornices are huge and potentially very destructive.