Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

THURSDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with isolated flurries / south to southwest winds , 40-65 km/h / freezing level 1100m / alpine low temperature near -4FRIDAY - Mainly cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries, up to 5 cm / south to southwest winds, 30-65 km/h / freezing level 1500-1900m / alpine high temperature near 0SATURDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / south winds, 25-40 km/h / freezing level 1000m / alpine high temperature near -5, low temperature near -10SUNDAY - Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries / south winds, 20-45 km/h / freezing level 1500m / alpine high temperature near -1, low temperature near -6

Numerous natural and explosives triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported in the region on Wednesday. Expect the storm slab to remain reactive with high freezing levels and strong winds.

30-50 cm of recent storm snow has fallen in the region with moderate to strong southerly winds. This snow sits on top of a weak layer of facets (sugary crystals), surface hoar (feathery crystals) and a sun crust on south aspects. Moderate to strong winds will persist throughout Friday and will continue to promote widespread slab development.Lower in the snowpack, a stacked pair of persistent weak layers are buried 50-60 and 90-100 cm. The upper layer consists of surface hoar in most places, but may exist as a sun crust on steep south facing slopes. The deeper layer features surface hoar above a temperature crust. Both layers are reportedly widespread at treeline and may also extend into sheltered alpine terrain. There have been no recent reports of reactivity on these layers, but they may remain a problem on steep south aspects. The potential may exist for smaller storm slab avalanches to step down to this deeper layer, resulting in large avalanches.