Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

The storm is expected to end on Sunday night. A break between storms is expected for most of Monday before the next system arrives Monday evening. The north of the region can expect less snowfall amounts than the south.Sat. Night/Sunday: Snowfall 20-40cm, freezing level am: 800m pm: 500m, ridgetop winds 30-50 km/h S-SW easing during the day.Monday: Cloudy with sunny breaks, mostly dry during the day, freezing level am: 300m pm: 600m, ridgetop winds 20-40 km/h W-NWMon. Night/Tuesday: Snow 15-25cm, freezing level am: 500m pm: 1000m, ridgetop winds 30-50 km/h SW

Observations during the storm are limited but we have received reports of wind slab activity and explosive triggered slabs releasing on the early-March layer.  Widespread natural activity is expected for Saturday night and Sunday.

Storm slabs continue to build. S-SW winds are building wind slabs in leeward features. A widespread crust is expected below the storm snow at lower elevations.Before the weekend storm, the early March persistent weak layer was down up to 1m in the north of the region. The south of the region had less snowfall and the slab was down roughly 60cm. This weak layer consists of any of the following: hard wind slabs or wind-scoured slopes in exposed terrain, a thick layer of faceted snow on sheltered/shady slopes, isolated surface hoar on sheltered/shady slopes, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. The early-February weak layer of surface hoar or a crust/facet combo is typically buried over 1.5m deep. This layer continues to react in snowpack tests, primarily on sheltered north aspects around treeline. The weight of the new snow and rain has the potential to reactivate this layer resulting in large, destructive avalanches. Basal facets and/or depth hoar remain an isolated concern in shallow snowpack areas in the northern part of the region.