Avalanche Forecast

High - We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.

It's still snowing out there!

FRIDAY NIGHT Light snow Friday ending overnight. Weather forecast call for wind to start from southwest moderate to strong.

SATURDAY: Another round of snow, around 15 to 25 cm, with moderate to strong southwest wind. Temps around -5 C.

SUNDAY: Clearing sky, no new snow, cooler temps around -10 C, but continued moderate to strong southwest winds.

MONDAY: repeat of Sunday.

There have been no recent reports of avalanches in the region. The only reports we've received are of exceptional powder riding.

The most likely place to trigger an avalanche given current conditions would be on the leeward side of a ridgeline. 

Snowpack is approaching 150 to 200 cm in Whitepass, closer to 100 cm in drier areas like the Wheaton.

The recent snow has been fresh and soft. Forecast southwest winds, whenever they hit, will build wind slabs and cornices.

Below this surface snow lies a widespread melt-freeze crust. The crust has been reported up to 1400 m in the Wheaton Valley, up to 1800 m near the Alaska border. The main concern is newly-formed wind slabs sitting on this crust.

The lower snowpack is generally settled and strong after a massive storm at the beginning of December. However, there is potential for weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack in colder drier areas such as the Wheaton Valley. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid terrain traps where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
• Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.