Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Saturday

FRIDAY NIGHT: Around 5 cm of low density snow expected. Mostly light winds.SATURDAY: 4-8 cm new snow. Treeline temperatures around -6C. Light northeasterly winds.SUNDAY: 2-4 cm new snow. Treeline temperatures around -8C. Light northeasterly winds.MONDAY: Flurries, with some clear spells. Treeline temperatures around -10C. Moderate northwesterly winds.

Numerous size 1-2 wind slab, storm slab and persistent slab avalanches were reported from areas in the south of the region on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These were predominantly at treeline and in the alpine on all aspects. In the the north part of the region avalanche activity on Thursday was primarily reported as wind slabs to size 1.5, again on a variety of aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

Relatively light amounts of low density snow have been accumulating above old surfaces that include previously wind-affected slopes, sugary facets and/or feathery surface hoar. In the south of the region, amounts since Tuesday are approximately 35 cm, while in the north, amount are more like 15 cm. Strong northeast winds have blown this snow into wind slabs onto unusual south- to west-facing slopes. The wind slab is reported to be very touchy, since it lies directly over this upper weak layer.Lower down in the snowpack there are two additional weak layers of surface hoar, which have produced large avalanches in the region. A layer buried at the end of January is around 40 cm deep and a layer buried mid-January is between 50 and 90 cm deep. The mid-January layer may also be associated with a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. These layers are most prominent at treeline and below.The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled. However, there have been sporadic reports of very large avalanches that have released near the base of the snowpack. Most of the avalanches have been in the high alpine. There has been about one report a week for the past month.