Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Wednesday

WEDNESDAY: Periods of snow, accumulation 15-20cm Tuesday night through Wednesday / Moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1400 m THURSDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods / Light northwest wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1600mFRIDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries / Light to moderate southwest wind / Alpine temperature -2 / Freezing level 1200

Reports from Tuesday indicate explosive and skier controlled avalanches to size 2 and 2.5. These were mostly wind and storm slabs failing 10-40cm deep. Some were also triggered by cornices pulling out 20-30cm slabs on slopes below.

Continued light to moderate snowfall is expected to add to the recent storm slabs. 2000m and below, the storm snow lies above a crust that formed last week. A rain crust that was buried around March 15 is now 80-100 cm deep. The mid-February crust/facet layer can still be found at the upper end of tree line and into the alpine. This interface is generally 120-170 cm deep but may be present nearer to the surface in wind scoured areas. Although there is growing confidence that this layer is becoming dormant, a storm slab or cornice release in the right location may have the potential to trigger any of the deeply buried weak layers.