Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number and quality of field observations

The last of the Pacific low off the coast will send 15 to 20cm of snow to the upper elevations this evening, tapering off early Sunday morning, and drying out for the beginning of the week.. Mostly light and gusty south easterly alpine winds are expected throughout the forecast period. Daytime high will bring the freezing level to around 1200m for the next few days, then climbing to close to 2000m by mid week.

No reports of avalanches from the past few days.

Approximately 15-30 cm of dense storm snow overlies a variety of old surfaces. Recent strong winds have scoured windward slopes and loaded lee slopes. Persistent weaknesses buried in the upper snowpack may include hard crusts and/or facets, although not much is known about the reactivity or spatial distribution of these layers. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Unpredictable, full-depth glide avalanches are also a concern on low elevation slopes with smooth ground cover (grassy slopes, rock slabs, etc.) where large cracks have formed from the snowpack slipping on the ground.