Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

SUNDAY Night: Mainly cloudy with clear periods / light to moderate southwest wind / alpine temperature -9 CMONDAY: Flurries, 5-15 cm / moderate southwest wind / alpine temperature -7 C / freezing level 1000 mTUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud  / light northwest wind / alpine temperature -8 C / freezing level 1000 m WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud / light northwest wind / alpine temperature -9 C / freezing level 900 m

Reports on Saturday include several natural and human triggered storm slab, loose dry and wind slab avalanches to size 1.5. There was also a report of a remotely (from a distance) triggered size 2 persistent slab avalanche on a north aspect at 2300m in the south of the region. It was suspected to have run on a buried layer of facets.On Friday, there were reports of natural and human triggered avalanches to size 2, as well as a natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 in the neighboring Glacier National Park region.

15-35 cm of recent storm snow is sitting mainly on wind slabs and facets (sugary snow), as well as surface hoar (feathery crystals) in sheltered areas and a crust on sun exposed slopes. There are two weak layers of surface hoar in the upper snowpack that were buried in late January and early February. They can be found between 40-90 cm below the surface. These layers consist primarily of surface hoar, though they may be associated with crusts on steeper, south facing slopes. These weak layers are most prominent on south facing slopes and all aspects below treeline. Avalanche activity on these layers has declined in recent days, however it may still be possible to trigger an avalanche in isolated areas such as steep cutblocks, large open glades, and steep south facing terrain.The lower snowpack is generally considered to be strong, except for shallow, rocky areas where the cold temperatures continue to facet (weaken) the snowpack.