Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday

Light snowfall on Tuesday ahead of what looks like significant snowfall on Thursday. Stay tuned!TUESDAY: Scattered flurries (2-5 cm possible) / Moderate south westerly winds / Alpine temperature near -1 C / Freezing level 700 m.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light south east winds / Alpine temperature -4 C / Freezing level 500 m.THURSDAY: Heavy snow (15-30cm by day's end) / Strong east winds / Alpine temperature -4 C / Freezing level 300 m.

Over the past several days, wet loose avalanches to size 2.5 were reported at all elevations on sunny aspects. Some of these stepped down to basal facets in northern parts of the region. In the south of the region, cornice failures on north facing ridge lines in the alpine were also reported, to size 2, but not triggering slabs below.

Variable snow surfaces are found in the region. In the east of the region, 5 to 10 cm of snow fell late last week onto a melt-freeze crust from previous warm temperatures and rain. In the west of the region, the melt-freeze crust is on the surface. Wet snow may still exist at low elevations on all aspects. High elevation north aspects may have lingering wind slabs in immediate lee features. This overlies a surface hoar and sugary facet layer in sheltered locations.A surface hoar and crust layer from January is buried around 80 to 140 cm in the southwest of the region. This layer still has the potential to be triggered from a thin snowpack spot, or with a large trigger like a cornice fall.Sugary facets exist at the bottom of the snowpack in steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas.