Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Friday: Continued stormy conditions, with strong, gusty southwesterly winds and freezing levels reaching 1500m. 10-15cm is possible. A ridge should build late in the day giving clearing skies overnight. Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud, with moderate, gusty southwest winds. Some convective flurries are possible with accumulations over south and west facing terrain. Freezing levels could reach 1400m. Sunday: Expect unsettled skies with flurries possible. Southwest winds ease to light values and freezing levels should be slightly lower.

Natural, explosive and human triggered avalanches have been reported up to size 2.0, with all failures on the March 26 interface. At lower elevations (where the surface is moist) these are running as loose events and at higher elevations the new snow is propagating as a slab.

Above 2000m, 20-40cm of new snow now overlies the March 26 interface. This has been accompanied by consistently moderate and at times gusty southwesterly winds forming windslabs in lee locations. Cornices loom, and will continue to grow with this weather pattern. The March 26 interface is a crust on all aspects except true north treeline and alpine, where small surface hoar (5mm) is present in sheltered places. The bond between the new snow and this interface is weak, especially where the surface hoar is present. At lower elevations, the high freezing levels have made the new snow heavy and moist. The deep, persistent early February surface hoar lingers in the snowpack giving sudden results in testing. Concern remains with heavy triggers and rapid loading.