Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to difficult to forecast freezing levels.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear skies with light southwest winds. Freezing levels drop to 1500-1000 m in most areas overnight. 

WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with moderate southwest winds (strong gusts possible). Flurries begin in the afternoon with 5-10 cm possible on western slopes around the Bugaboos. Freezing levels 1500-2000m, alpine high +3. 

THURSDAY: A mix of sun and cloud, light to moderate westerly winds. Isolated flurries possible. Freezing levels peak at 1500 m, alpine highs of +1.

FRIDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with light southwest winds. Freezing levels reach 1600 m. Alpine highs of +2. 

On Monday, several natural loose wet avalanches were reported to size 2.5. Avalanches were reported on all aspects indicating the strength of the current warm weather on weakening the snowpack. 

Small pockets of wind slabs sit on east facing slopes in the alpine. A crust exists on all aspects as high as 2300 m, softening in the afternoon at all elevations with warm temperatures and sun creating moist surface snow. At very low elevations, the snowpack may be wet and isothermal, depending on overnight freezing levels. 

At 30 to 75 cm below the snow surface, a sun crust can be found on solar aspects. This layer was buried in early March and produced several avalanches last week. The recent warm weather seems to have helped this layer bond. The lower snowpack is generally strong and well bonded.

• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.