Avalanche Forecast

Saturday night: Increasing cloud with flurries starting, moderate westerly wind, alpine temperature -12.

Sunday: Flurries, up to 5 cm, light wind, alpine high -10.

Monday: Flurries, trace, light wind, alpine high -11.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, light to moderate southerly wind, alpine high -12.

No new reports in the last few days. Earlier in the week, reports from the northern part of the region included a natural wind slab avalanche size 1.5 at treeline and a few cornice falls up to size 2. Some of the cornice falls triggered wind slab avalanches up to size 2 in the slopes below. None of these large loads triggered deep persistent layers.

A dusting of new snow falls on generally hard surfaces throughout the region; old stiff wind slab at upper elevations and a crust below 1600 m and on south aspects. In the recent cool, clear weather, crystals such as surface hoar and facets have formed ontop of these old surfaces. They are expected to become problematic as snow accumulates overtop.

In the south, the underlying snowpack is well consolidated. In the north, remnants of a melt-freeze crust from early December may be found 100 to 200 cm deep. Recent reports and snow profiles suggest that this layer is decomposing and/or bonding to surrounding snow and trending dormant... for now at least.

• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.