Avalanche Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Snow; 5-15 cm / Strong west winds / Low of -8 / Freezing level valley bottom.

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light southwest wind / High of -2 / Freezing level 1400 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / Light southwest wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 1400 m.

MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 3-5 cm / Strong southwest wind / High of 1 / Freezing level 1700 m.

A skier triggered size 1 wind slab was reported on Thursday.

Riders may get surprised by widely propagating storm slabs that are sitting on crusts and/or surface hoar.

5-15 cm of forecast snow and strong west winds on Friday night will form fresh wind slabs on lee features in open terrain.

The new snow will be sitting on a variety of surfaces including hard wind affected snow, sun crusts on southerly slopes, and surface hoar on shady or sheltered slopes. Expect wind slabs to be most reactive where they are sitting on either a sun crust or surface hoar.

The lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong in most areas, with prominent crust layers 50 to 100 cm deep. No recent persistent slab avalanches have been reported on these layers.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
• Minimize your exposure time below cornices.