Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

MONDAY: Cloudy with light morning snow and afternoon clearing, accumulation trace to 10 cm, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1500 m rising to 2000 m by late afternoon.TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud early morning then mostly cloudy with rain switching to snow at higher elevations, accumulation 10 mm, moderate to strong southerly winds, alpine temperature 0 C, freezing level 2600 m dropping to 1700 m over the day.WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, light southeasterly winds, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 1600 m.

Many loose wet avalanches were observed on all aspects up to treeline in steep terrain on Saturday.On Friday, a large (size 2.5) persistent slab avalanche was triggered by a cornice on a northeast aspect around 1900 to 2200 m.  The slab likely released on the weak layer described in the Snowpack Summary.  Small to large (size 1 to 2) wind slabs were also reactive to skiers and large loads, generally failing in alpine terrain in immediate lee terrain features.  Loose wet avalanches were observed across the region on all aspects to size 1.5.

Around 10 to 20 cm of recent snow and strong southwesterly winds created new slabs at higher elevations.  This snow overlies a melt-freeze crusts on sunny aspects and all aspects to treeline, and dry snow on shaded aspects in the alpine.  On ridges, cornices are reported to be large and fragile. At low elevations below treeline, precipitation fell as rain and created moist or wet snow conditions.A weak layer consisting of surface hoar, facets, or a sun crust from late March is now buried about 40 to 80 cm. This layer is spotty in its distribution. It is mostly likely to be problematic on shady aspects between 1900 m and 2250 m.The mid and lower snowpack are strong and well-settled.