Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Wednesday: Expect flurries through the day, with southwest winds increasing to 30-50km/h. Freezing levels could reach 1800m. 15cm of snow is possible. Thursday / Friday: A series of fast-moving systems will pass through, giving short, intense flurries under moderate to strong southwest winds. Freezing levels should reach 1500m each afternoon. The most vigorous pulse is expected Thursday afternoon with 20cm possible.

Natural and explosive triggered avalanches have been reported up to size 2.0, with the new storm snow failing on the March 26 melt freeze crust.

The recent warm, clear weather has left us with an aggressive melt freeze crust on solar aspects well into the alpine while shady, dead north slopes have grown small surface hoar and remain powdery. In some areas up to 25cm of new snow now overlies these surfaces. New windslabs are forming at ridgecrest under the increased winds. Large cornices loom in the alpine. In recent snowpack tests, the early February surface hoar remains well preserved down 100-180cm and continues to yield sudden results. Although unlikely, triggering this layer would yield a very large, destructive avalanche.