Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Some cloud is forecast to remain in the Southeast corner of the province overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning. Moderate Northwest winds are expected overnight as the ridge of High pressure moves South into the region. There is a chance of 3-5 mm of precipitation due to moisture left in the area being cooled by the air descending from the North. Freezing levels should drop down to valley bottoms by Sunday morning. We should see gradual clearing on Sunday with light Northeast winds. Monday should be clear with light winds and freezing levels remaining at valley bottoms during the day and alpine temperatures around -8. Increasing cloud is forecast for Tuesday as a weak Southwest flow begins to push into the region. At this time there is not much precipitation associated with this cloud.

No new reports of avalanches from the region.

Light rain from the past week has saturated the upper snowpack at higher elevations, and the entire snowpack below treeline. With forecast cooling, these surfaces will likely exist as a new crust. There may be a buried persistent weak layer of crust and/or facets that is now down between 70-100 cm. This buried crust may continue to be triggered by large additional loads in high alpine areas that did not get rain during the recent storm. Pockets of wind slab may continue to be triggered by skiers and riders at or near ridgetops in areas where the snow was dry enough to be transported by the strong Southwest winds during the storm.