Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain on Saturday

FRIDAY: Scattered flurries / Moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -6 / Freezing level 1400mSATURDAY: Snow, accumulation 25-35cm / Moderate to strong southwest wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1900mSUNDAY: Broken skies with isolated flurries / moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -13 / Freezing level 800mMore details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.

The past few days warm and wet weather have seen a natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 from a variety of aspects and elevations. In the coming days expect the likelihood of triggering an avalanche to remain elevated.

Around 60-90cm of new snow has fallen at upper elevations over the past several days and has been redistributed by moderate southerly wind. Warm temperatures on Sunday through Tuesday has resulted in moist and/or rain saturated snow on all aspects up to 2100m. The new snow sits on top of faceted snow as well as isolated small surface hoar in sheltered areas and a thin sun crust on steep southerly aspects. The persistent weakness buried late-February is now down 90-140cm, and is composed of weak facetted crystals on a thick rain crust as high as about 2000m and facets on sun crust on steep southerly aspects. This layer has produced easy results in recent snowpack tests and has proven especially reactive on steep southerly aspects. Several deeper persistent weaknesses also remain a concern, including surface hoar buried early-February and mid-January (primarily in the northern Purcells). The november crust and basal facets are still reactive in shallow, rocky start zones.