Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Isolated flurries with a mild inversion for the week as temperatures gradually warm up. Some snow on Thursday & Friday.TUESDAY: Cloudy with some flurries (2-5 cm possible). Ridge wind moderate south west. Temperature -3. Freezing level 500m with an AFL from 1200m to 1700m. WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Ridge wind moderate from the south. Temperature -2. Freezing level 500m with an AFL from 1100m to 1900m. THURSDAY: Snow. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind strong from the south. Temperature -2. Freezing level 600 m.

Isolated pockets of wind slab (to Size 2) have proven reactive to intentional human triggering, including southerly aspects around 1700m. Although the wind slabs were relatively thin (10 cm thick on average), they did run far.

Surface snow has been affected by winds from a variety of directions. The degree of wind effect varies throughout the region, with the most dramatic winds associated with outflow conditions in western parts of the region near coastal inlets. Sheltered areas may still have 10-30 cm of powder from previous storms. A variable weak layer that formed in mid-December can be found roughly 20 cm below the surface. This mid-December layer is comprised of crusts on solar aspects and feathery surface hoar in sheltered locations.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with two prominent crusts. The late-November crust can be found 30-50 cm below the surface and the October crust is near the base of the snowpack.For an update on recent conditions check out the Mountain Information Network (MIN) report here. And please submit your own observations to the MIN!