Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Snow; 15-20 cm (rain below ~700 m) / Strong, west wind / Low of -1 / Freezing level rising to 1000 m.

THURSDAY: Flurries; 3-5 cm / Strong, west wind / High of 1 / Freezing level 1100 m.

FRIDAY: Flurries; 3-5 cm, and another 10-15 cm overnight / Strong, southwest wind / High of 2 / Freezing level 1200 m.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with flurries; 3-5 cm / Light, west wind / High of -1 / Freezing level 700 m.

Fresh storm slabs are expected to form at all elevations Wednesday night and will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

 

15-20 cm of forecast snow and strong west winds on Wednesday night is expected to form fresh storm slabs sitting on a thick rain crust at all elevations. The slabs will be most reactive in wind affected terrain.

The 10-30 cm thick rain crust makes human triggering of avalanches on weak layers deeper in the snowpack very unlikely.

However, cornices overhead are a primary concern during sunny, warm, or windy conditions. Cornice failures can trigger very large persistent slab avalanches that would otherwise be difficult to human trigger.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
• Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
• Be careful to keep storm day fever from luring you out into bigger terrain features.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.