Avalanche Forecast

Good

Friday: Precipitation is expected to taper off to scattered light to moderate showers under an unstable airmass, however strong southwesterly winds are expected to continue. Freezing levels are expected to hover around 500-700 m. Saturday and Sunday: A fairly weak system is expected to arrive on the north coast on Saturday bringing light to moderate precipitation to the area. This system will be through by Sunday but moderate showers will likely prevail under a very unstable airmass. Strong southerly winds and freezing level around 500-1000m are expected for both days.

Observations were limited on Wednesday, but reports suggest that a large natural avalanche cycle occurred in the Stewart and Bear Pass area, but the storm had yet to reach areas further south.

Strong westerly winds are keeping wind slabs fresh and weak on lee aspects and isolated afternoon down flow (katabatic) winds were reported to have deposited new wind slabs primarily in gully features and on northerly aspects. The early February persistent weak layers seem to be bonding, but remain a concern at higher elevations with heavy triggers such as cornice falls. While below treeline persistent slabs are reactive to human triggers on isolated sheltered steep terrain where buried surface hoar is preserved. Surface hoar buried at the beginning of March remains unreactive due to limited slab formation.