Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

There was a small natural avalanche cycle overnight in steep start zones that was likely triggered by a wind spike.

Reports have been trickling in of wind effect and shooting cracks in alpine terrain. The operations around us are also reporting a mix of wind slab and stormslabs as well as sluffing in steep terrain.

Continuous snowfall the past week has brought 90+cm. Mod to strong S/SW winds formed a reactive wind slab in specific features (ridge lee areas, open cross-loaded slopes, convex rolls).

Sheltered slopes hold excellent skiing.

A persistent weak layer is down 90-120cm. This interface is breaking down, but consists of surface hoar in sheltered locations, and a sun crust on solar aspects. The snowpack's base is comprised of several early-season melt-freeze rain crusts

A series of low intensity storms will affect the region over the next few days.

Tonight Isolated flurries, trace amounts, Alp low -8°C, South winds 30 km/h, freezing level (FZL) 900m.

Fri Sun/cloud/flurries, trace snow, Alp High -7°C, light wind gusting 30km/h, FZL 1000m.

Sat Flurries, 10cm, Alp High -5°C, SW winds 35-40km/h, FZL 1200m

Sun Flurries, Trace snowfall, Alp High -7°C, winds light SE, FZL 1100m.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.