Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Monday Night: Mainly cloudy with clear periods, moderate west wind, alpine temperature -8 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud with increasing cloudiness late in the day leading to overnight flurries, moderate to strong west wind, alpine temperature -3 C, freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud, light west and northwest wind, alpine temperature -7 C, freezing level at valley bottom.

Thursday: Mainly cloudy with sunny breaks, moderate to strong west and west wind, alpine temperature -4 C, freezing level 500 m.

We have not received recent reports of avalanche activity.

The warm temperatures last week triggered loose wet avalanches on solar (south through west) aspects. Strong winds triggered wind slabs naturally up to size 2 and explosive controlled avalanche (near Pine Pass) up to size 3. 

Strong south to west winds in exposed areas have scoured some slopes and built windslabs on others. Freezing levels reached treeline last Thursday and Friday. It has cooled since so you will likely find a new snow on the surface or a crust treeline and below.

About a metre of snow covers a weak layer of facets buried mid February. Slightly deeper there is a widespread persistent weak layer from late January/early February that consists of surface hoar. It is most prevalent around treeline elevations, but likely reaches into the alpine and in openings below treeline too. These layers are both significantly shallower in the east of the region.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.
• Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.