Avalanche Forecast

Few observations of natural activity over last few days, with isolated activity triggered by southerly winds and high freezing levels in valley bottoms avalanche paths.

Riders have been triggering warm, storm slabs below treeline this week. These avalanches have been small and failing down 30-40 cm on the Jan 3 crust.

Backcountry report of reactive wind slabs up the Asulkan drainage on Wednesday.

Warm temperatures below treeline and wind effect in the alpine & at treeline have created a soft storm slab. This overlies variable wind effect in open terrain at/above Tree-line, and faceted snow in sheltered areas below Tree-line.

A sun crust (Jan 3), down 50cm and most prominent at and below Tree-line on S-SW aspects, has been the failure plane for recent human triggered avalanches.

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down ~110cm and is decomposing.

2 frontal systems impacting the interior on Fri and Sun will bring warm temperature, light to moderate snowfall and S winds.

Tonight: Cloudy, flurries, 5cm snow, Alp low -6°C, light SW winds, 1100m FZL

Fri: Flurries, Trace , Alp high -6°C, light SW winds, 1400m FZL

Sat: Flurries, 8 cm, Alp high -5°C, moderate SW winds, 1800m FZL

Sun: Periods of snow, 15cm, Alp high 0°C, mod to strong S winds, 2200m FZL

• Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be aware of the potential for human triggerable storm slabs at lower elevations, even on small features.