Avalanche Forecast

Good

Tonight: Moderate snowfall (locally heavy) - 10-20cm. The freezing level (FL) should be near valley bottom. Winds shift to moderate from the NW. Saturday: Unsettled conditions with up to 15cm of snow. FL rising to 800m. Winds are moderate from the NW. Sunday: Mainly cloudy and drier. FL around 500m and winds ease to light from the NW. Monday: A mix of sun and cloud. FL near valley bottom.

A large natural avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday and Thursday. Slab avalanches were reported up to Size 3.5 on all aspects and at all elevations. There were also numerous reports of skier triggered and remotely triggered avalanches on a variety aspects. The potential for human triggered avalanches remains high in all terrain over 30 degrees and it may be possible to trigger an avalanche from the bottom of a slope.

Strong and variable winds have created weak wind slabs on a variety of aspects at all elevations. Up to 80cm of new snow now sits on the February 16th Surface Hoar layer. The February 8th weakness is now down 90-120cm. This layer is a combination of weak layers: In most locations it marks a widespread surface hoar layer. On steep south & west facing aspects a sun crust that formed during the drought was also buried on Feb. 8th. This crust likely has a bit of faceting below it too, meaning that most terrain in the region has a weak layer 40-60cm under the snow surface. These buried weaknesses have made conditions very tricky with the potential for triggering in lower angle terrain and from a distance. It is should be noted that large cornices remain widespread throughout the region and may fail as temperatures fluctuate over the next few days.