Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Friday

Thursday Night: Up to 10cm of snow / Moderate westerly winds / Freezing level at surfaceFriday: Light snowfall / Moderate to strong southwest winds / Freezing level at 1000m climbing to about 1800m in the eveningSaturday: 10-15cm of snow at higher elevations / Moderate to strong southwest winds / Freezing level at about 2000mSunday: Up to 30cm of snow at higher elevations / Moderate to strong southwest winds / Freezing level up to about 2000m

Several natural storm slab avalanches to size 2.5 were reported on a variety of aspects and elevations on Wednesday. Numerous size 3 storm slab avalanches were also reported on south facing alpine terrain. These avalanches formed in response to new snow and wind. I would expect more of this with the potential to step down to deeply buried persistent weaknesses with forecast precipitation and rising freezing levels over the weekend.

Up to 80cm of recent storm snow overlies small surface hoar in sheltered areas, a sun crust on solar aspects and wind slabs at higher elevations. In wind exposed terrain these new accumulations have been pushed into much deeper deposits by generally moderate southwest winds. Forecast snowfall, wind and warming will add to the reactivity and destructive potential of this developing storm slab.There is ongoing concern for a mix of weak surfaces which were buried on February 10th. This persistent interface lies between 80 and 180cm below the surface, and includes surface hoar, well developed facets and a mix of hard surfaces which remain widespread at all aspects and elevations. Although natural avalanche activity has tapered-off at this interface, it remains sensitive to remote triggers in isolated terrain and may see a significant "wake-up", particularly with the increased load of the new snow and forecast rain.For the most part, the mid and lower snowpack are strong and well consolidated.