Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Friday: Dry and sunny. Winds mostly light northeasterly. Alpine temperatures around -16C. Saturday: Dry and sunny. Winds mostly light from the northeast. Alpine temperatures around -17C. Sunday: Increasing cloud. Winds increasing through the day to 40km/h southwesterly by the afternoon. Temperatures around -17C.

A widespread natural storm cycle up to size 3 was reported that ended on Wednesday. Human triggering remains likely, especially in terrain that has not been heavily ridden.

Up to 50 cm new storm snow now sits over a highly variable interface comprising of wind-scoured surfaces, hard wind slabs, faceted (sugary) snow, and maybe some feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas. The new appears to have bonded poorly to this interface. The winds were extreme through much of the storm, and hard wind slabs now exist behind exposed terrain features. The snowpack is still shallow throughout the region and widespread faceting of the entire snowpack is likely in most areas. A thick rain crust that formed in early November is probably near the bottom of the snowpack and is probably surrounded by sugary facets. Basal facets and depth hoar (more sugary crystals) right at the bottom of the snowpack are reportedly widespread.