Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Saturday

Unsettled conditions are expected for Saturday and Sunday. Light winds and convective snow showers are forecast to bring up to 10 cm on Saturday. Clearing overnight should turn to broken skies during the day on Sunday. There may be some clearing on Monday if a ridge of high pressure extends far enough north. If the ridge does not go far enough north, then expect cloud and scattered flurries to move in from the northwest.

Natural avalanches up to size 2.0 and explosive controlled avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported from the Dogtooth on Friday. Avalanches were confined to the 40 cm of new snow. Reports confirm that there was a widespread cycle to size 3.0 in the past 48 hours. A skier remotely triggered a size 3.0 avalanche from about 50 metres away on Wednesday in Canyon Creek. The slide was reported to be from a west aspect below treeline at about 2000 metres. Expect natural and easily triggered avalanches to continue. If the sun comes out, expect natural activity in the storm slab that may step down to the PWL once it is in motion.

40 cm of new snow overnight with light-moderate southerly winds created an unconsolidated slab above the recent storm snow. The combined slab above the mid-february persistent weak layer is now between 150-200 cm. Some operators continue to get easy-moderate sudden planar character shears on the mid-february surface hoar in shallow areas. The persistent weak layer continues to be a concern at all elevations, and may show wide propagations on low angle terrain below treeline. The new snow may consolidate and release naturally if the skies clear and we get some strong solar radiation. Snowpack conditions continue to be tricky to evaluate, and are variable throughout the region.