Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Unsettled conditions and light precipitation are expected for most of Saturday before the next low pressure system hits the north coast Saturday evening. There is quite a bit of uncertainty as to how much precipitation will make it into the inland region and there is a possibility that the storm will be confined to the coast. Light scattered precipitation is expected for Sunday and Monday.Saturday: Precipitation 1-3mm, freezing level am: 1000m pm: 1500m, ridgetop wind: moderate SE-SWSat. Night: Precipitation 2-8mm, ridgetop wind: strong S-SWSunday: Precipitation 1-3mm, freezing level am: 1200m pm: 1600m, ridgetop wind: moderate-strong SE-SWSun. Night/Monday: Precipitation 2-5mm, freezing level am: 1100m pm: 1500m, ridgetop wind: moderate-strong S-SW decreasing to light SE-S

No new avalanches have been reported but this may be due to a lack of observers in the field.

The new snow may sit on a melt-freeze crust, old wind slabs in leeward features, or dry snow in sheltered north facing terrain at higher elevations. Recent strong S through W winds have created wind slabs in leeward features. In some areas, there may still be a weak layer below the old storm snow, down roughly 50-80cm, but triggering of this layer has become stubborn or unlikely. Cornices are also large and potentially weak, particularly during periods of warming. The early February persistent weak layer is typically down 1.5 to 2m. Triggering of this layer has become unlikely but may still be possible with heavy triggers such as cornice falls or smaller avalanches stepping-down.