Avalanche Forecast

Monday night: Scattered flurries. Moderate northwest wind. Freezing level valley bottom. Alpine temperature -13.

Tuesday: Scattered flurries. Moderate westerly wind. Freezing level 1400 m. Alpine temperature -7.

Wednesday: Sunny. Light to moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1800 m. Alpine temperature -1.

Thursday: Flurries. Strong southwest wind. Freezing level 1700 m. Alpine temperature -3.

We are still awaiting reports of avalanche activity from the weekend's storm. A widespread natural cycle is likely to have occurred Sunday. 

On Saturday, evidence of an old size 2 cornice failure was observed at Allen Creek. Otherwise, we have no reports of avalanche activity since Wednesday's storm when there were a few reports of natural and human triggered storm slab avalanches.

The weekend's storm dropped 20-50 cm of new snow over the region. This snow came with wind from southwest to northwest, loading thick slabs in lee features at upper elevations. The new snow is expected to bond reasonably well with underlying surfaces. Crusty and/or moist surfaces exist below treeline depending on elevation and time of day.

The new snow buries old stubborn slabs at upper elevations and a crust below treeline. Recent warm weather patterns are expected to have helped old persistent weak layers heal. The new snow load (and whether it triggers deeper slabs during the storm) may help shed some light on concerns over a facet layer 150 cm deep from the mid-February cold snap that resulted in few large cornice triggered avalanches in the first half of March.

• Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
• Start with conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.