Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

No new avalanches have been reported over the past few days, but there was some evidence of old wind slab avalanches in alpine bowls.

Small wind slab avalanches are possible in isolated steep terrain on Saturday. A period of natural avalanche activity can be expected later in the day on Sunday as the incoming storm intensifies.

A few centimetres of moist snow from the past few days sits over crusts and wind-hardened layers. Shaded areas at upper elevations may still have some dry snow on the surface. The Northern Peninsula may have deeper deposits of fresh snow. Forecasts called for 10 to 15 cm in that area over the past few days, but we do not have field observations to verify those amounts.

The snowpack is generally dense and bonded, with a few crust layers found throughout.

Friday night

Partly cloudy skies, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, mountain temperatures cool to -5 °C.

Saturday

Mix of sun and cloud, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, mountain temperatures around -2 °C.

Snowfall increasing in intensity throughout the day with 5 to 15 cm possible by the evening, chance of freezing rain, strong southeast wind with gusts to 70 km/h, mountain temperatures around -2 °C.

Heavy snowfall continues Sunday night with another 10 to 30 cm possible by the morning and flurries throughout the day bring another 5 to 15 cm by the evening, strong wind shifts to the west with gusts to 90 km/h, mountain temperatures cool to -5 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.