Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

Tonight and Sunday: Periods of snow 5-15 cm. The freezing level is around 800-1000 m. Winds are strong easing to moderate from the W-SW. Monday: Cloudy with sunny breaks and possible flurries. The freezing level is around 1000 m. Winds are light but gusty from the W-SW. Tuesday: Periods of snow. The freezing level is around 1500 m and winds increase to strong from the SW.

Reports suggest that a natural avalanche cycle most likely started overnight on Friday - at least in areas that received over 20 cm of new snow. Avalanches up to size 3 were expected. Most of these probably released on the recently buried snow surface, but some may have stepped down to the mid February layer.

Up to 40 cm of dense storm snow now sits on a layer of surface hoar and/or a thick layer of facetted snow on shady slopes at all elevations, a sun crust on steep solar aspects, and various wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Strong southwest winds have created dense wind slabs on exposed lee slopes and in cross-loaded features. The early February weak layer of facets, crusts, and surface hoar is buried down about 50-100 cm. This layer could become reactive in the next couple days with additional loading and significantly warmer temperatures. Basal facets and depth hoar remain a concern in areas with thin or variable snow cover.