Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Flurries, 10-15 cm snow. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1000 m.THURSDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, up to 5 cm snow. Moderate southwest wind. Freezing level 1400 m.FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, no precipitation. Light south-southwest wind. Freezing level 1400 m, chance of inversion.SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light southwest wind. Freezing level rising above 2000 m.More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

On Wednesday, natural avalanches to size 2 were reported around the Whitewater area. Through the day, explosives triggered storm slab avalanches to size 2 and ski cuts triggered storm slab avalanches to size 1.5. Several small wind slabs were triggered by people on Monday on north to north-east aspects near treeline. On Sunday, several explosives-triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported in the region at or near treeline on all aspects.

Approximately 20 cm recent snow falling with moderate to strong winds and increasing temperatures have created variable storm slabs and wind slabs. Wind slabs were observed at all elevations on Monday and may be hidden under the most recent snowfall. Isolated layers of surface hoar and or crusts may be found in the upper snowpack. A weak layer buried early December is down 60-120 cm in the alpine and treeline elevations. It consists of a rain crust, surface hoar, and facets (sugary snow). Professional are continuing to monitor this interface. Although the likelihood of triggering has gone down, if triggered this weak layer has the potential to produce large avalanches. This layer most likely to be triggered from a thin-spot trigger point or with a large load, like cornice fall.