Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing of incoming weather is uncertain on Saturday

Saturday: Moderate to heavy precipitation. Freezing level rising through the day to around 1300m. Strong to gale south-westerly winds at ridge top. Sunday: Light to moderate snow continues. Freezing level staying near 1200m. Strong westerly winds.Monday: A break from heavy snow, although light snow is possible, especially on western slopes. Freezing level falling back to valley floor.

On Thursday, a skier remotely triggered a size 1.5 slab on a convex feature. It failed on facets beneath the storm snow. On Wednesday, three size 3.5 natural avalanches ran full path. A few other natural avalanches, up to size 2, were observed in steep lee (wind-loaded) terrain. Whumphing was observed below treeline.

Up to 1m of snow has fallen since Monday. Strong winds have created hard slabs, soft slabs and fragile cornices. Snowpack tests give easy to moderate results on several layers in the upper snowpack. Key concerns as further snow builds this weekend include a weak facet layer that was created during the brutal cold snap in mid-January and a buried crust which is found below treeline.