Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Thursday

Overnight: Freezing level at 2200 metres, slowly dropping by morning to 1500 metres. Expect 5-10 mm of precipitation that will mostly be rain, except at the highest elevations, combined with strong southwest winds. Thursday: Daytime freezing level around 1500 metres, 3-5 cm of new snow in the alpine, and moderate westerly winds. Friday: Overnight freezing down to valley bottoms, and then rising up to at least 2200 metres. Mostly sunny with light southwest winds. Saturday: Freezing level remaining above 2000 metres, 5-10 mm of precipitation, combined with strong southwest winds.

Wind slabs are expected to continue to develop in the alpine above the high freezing levels. At lower elevations, snow may be moist or wet and release easily in pockets of loose wet snow. The possibility of deep persistent avalanches continues during this period of warm and stormy weather. No new reports of avalanches.

A warm, wet, and windy storm will form fresh wind slabs at higher elevations while rain will fall below treeline. March has delivered regular storms with roughly 50-90 cm of snow sitting above crust and facet interfaces from February. In some areas the snow above these interfaces may have a poor bond. The mid-pack in this region is generally strong, but the bottom third of the snowpack is composed of weak sugary facets roughly 1-1.5 metres deep. This remains a concern and should be on your radar, especially with the recent loading and ongoing warming.