Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

Friday night: Flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong south winds.Saturday: Mainly cloudy with continuing flurries bringing approximately 5 cm of new snow. Moderate to strong west winds. Freezing level to 1700 metres with alpine temperatures around -4.Sunday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Light to moderate northwest winds. Freezing level to 1500 metres with alpine temperatures around -7.Monday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light southwest winds. Freezing level to 1600 metres with alpine temperatures around -7.

Reports from Thursday included observations of two large (Size 2.5 and Size 3) storm slabs releasing naturally from steep alpine terrain north of Blue River. Crown fractures of these slides ranged from 60-80 cm. Extensive natural sluffing to Size 2 was also observed, with loose dry activity on northerly aspects and loose wet from solar aspects. One Size 1 cornice fall was also reported.

Up to 40 cm of recent storm snow has fallen at upper elevations. The new snow is dry up high and moist from 1800 m and below. This now brings 40-90 cm of accumulated snow which overlies a rain crust below 2000 m or a sun crust on solar aspects at higher elevations. New wind slabs are developing on leeward slopes and behind terrain features and large, fragile cornices exist along ridgelines. At higher elevations, the February weak layers are down 120-150 cm and woke up during last week's storm with many avalanches stepping down to them. The deep mid-December facet layer and November rain crust both still linger near the bottom of the snowpack and a few avalanches and cornice falls have also stepped down to these layers last week resulting in some very large full depth avalanches. These layers remain a real concern while touchier wind slabs, storm slabs and cornices continue to present the risk of acting as triggers for deeper weaknesses.