Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Synopsis:  A weak ridge of high pressure will develop over the interior of the province Sunday.  Convective flurries may be possible.  The ridge shifts eastward as the next system moves in over the region Monday night.Tonight and Sunday: Light precipitation overnight (up to 10cm) then clearing /  Moderate then light westerly winds  / Freezing levels 2000mMonday: Partly cloudy with a chance of flurries /  Moderate southwesterly winds / Freezing levels up to 2600m Tuesday: Flurries (5-20 cm) / Light southerly winds / Freezing levels between 1900 and 2500m

At lower elevations and on solar aspects small to large loose wet avalanche continue to be triggered on steep slopes.  Cornices collapses have been reported during periods of daytime warming.  Occasionally these heavy triggers have caused larger deep slab avalanches on the slopes below.

5-30 cm of recent storms snow is rapidly settling and appears to be bonding well to a supportive crust that can be found on all aspects and elevations except for high elevation north-facing terrain.  Soft winds slabs may be found in the immediate lee of ridges and ribs.Three persistent weak layers still exist in the highly variable snowpack of the Purcells: The mid-March sun crust/surface hoar layer down 50-80cm and the early-March crust/facet/surface hoar layer down around 80-120cm seem to be laying dormant for the time being. The mid-February crust/facet/surface hoar combo is typically down 60 - 120cm. Direct triggering of this layer has become unlikely, however, cornice fall, a smaller avalanche in motion or prolonged warming may wake this layer up.  The resulting avalanche would be very large and destructive.At the base of the snowpack weak basal facets can be found in many areas, however triggering this layer is unlikely.