Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Expect a brief period of cooler and drier weather on Monday (flurries possible), before the next pulse of snow arrives on Tuesday (10-20cm). Snowfall becomes lighter on Wednesday. Winds are moderate to strong westerly to north-westerly, easing by Wednesday. Freezing levels are expected to fall from 1300m on Monday to near 800m by Tuesday.

On Friday and Saturday, the storm snow was reacting very easily with skier traffic, creating small avalanches failing on the buried surface hoar (including one remote trigger with a partial burial). As the storm snow depth builds, it’s likely that avalanche activity will become larger and more widespread. Field observations have been limited during the storm.

Storm snow and wind slabs have built up above a touchy layer of large surface hoar crystals. Below around 2100m, this surface hoar sits on a hard rain crust. Above 2100m the surface hoar sits on well settled and faceted snow. A thick rain crust with facets from early November is buried over 1 m down and may still be reactive in isolated areas.