Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the timing, track, & intensity of the incoming weather system. Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

Friday Night: Snow, accumulation 10-20 cm, strong to extremely strong southwest wind, treeline high 0 C, freezing level 900 m. 

Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate northerly wind, treeline high 0 C, freezing level 1200 m.

Sunday: Sunny, light to moderate northwest wind, treeline high -1 C, freezing level 700 m.

Monday: Mostly sunny, light to moderate northwest wind, treeline high +1 C, freezing level 1000 m.

A few small (size 1) avalanches were triggered by skiers on Thursday. Numerous natural and human triggered avalanches of size 1 were reported on Wednesday. Most of these avalanches released within the recent storm snow and were 5-15 cm thick.

Numerous small (size 1) slab avalanches were triggered by humans on Tuesday. Several avalanches released on the crust which was buried by the recent new snow.

Warm temperatures moistened the surface of the snow at lower elevations. 20-30 cm of new snow sits on a thick rain crust. It is uncertain how well the recent storm snow bonds with the crust. The snowpack below the crust consists of moist to wet snow and is well settled. Snowpack depths are suspected to be in the range of 150-250 cm around the peaks of the north shore mountains (1400 m), tapering quickly with elevation to almost nothing below 1000 m.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
• Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.