Avalanche Forecast

Large cornices exist and continued snowfall, wind and high humidity continue to promote cornice growth. Cornice failures have the potential to over load the snowpack and trigger both new snow instabilities as well as deeper instabilities. Expect the new growth to be fragile and when freezing levels rise they will become suspect trigger points for large avalanche events. Location: Many aspects at ridge top in the Alpine and Tree line. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is possible to likely from light loads such as skiers/snowmobilers. Natural avalanches are unlikely to possible. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be large size 2, on isolated terrain features very large, size 3

Loose wet avalanches could become a factor on Wednesday as air temperatures will rise to the Alpine for the first time in over 72hours. A good deal of light dry powder snow will begin to undergo a melting trend for the first time on Wednesday which could result in naturally occurring loose wet avalanches on steep terrain. Location: Steep unsupported Terrain at Alpine and Tree line. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is possible to likely from light loads such as skiers/snowmobilers. Natural avalanches are unlikely to possible. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be large size 1, on isolated terrain features large, size 2 .

Wind slabs could become a factor Monday and into Tuesday in areas where precipitation arrived Sunday in excess of 20cm coupled with Extreme winds and a lower freezing level. Found predominantly on downwind aspects, the location of the wind slab will be found on Northerly and Southerly facing terrain due to extreme winds and reverse loading on the weekend. Moving into the early portion of the week, consistently Strong North flowing wind will promote wind slab development on Southerly facing terrain. This avalanche problem overlies a variety of snow surfaces, mostly a wet upper snowpack surface or a firm melt freeze crust (depending on elevation and aspect). Location: North and South facing aspects, by Tuesday, expect Southerly aspects to become a more likely area for triggering of wind slabs. The wind slabs will be found in both the Alpine and Tree line elevation bands. Possibility: Triggering of this avalanche problem is possible to likely from light loads such as skiers/snowmobilers. Natural avalanches are unlikely to possible. Size: If triggered expect these avalanches to be large size 2, on isolated terrain features very large, size 3 .