Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -6 C.

TUESDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1000 m.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with snow and rain, accumulation 5 to 15 cm above 1800 m and rain below, 60 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level 1800 m.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall then clearing, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1000 m.

Many large (size 2) wind and storm slab avalanches were observed on the weekend, being triggered naturally and by riders (for example, here).

Looking forward, similar avalanches are expected to be triggerable by riders as slabs continue to build.

Strong southwest wind and continual snowfall have formed wind slabs in lee terrain features at higher elevations. Storm slabs may also be building in sheltered terrain. Storm totals have reached 40 to 60 cm for much of the region since early February. These slabs may take a bit of time to bond to the snowpack, particularly where they sit on weak faceted snow or surface hoar crystals. Below around 1000 m, precipitation is expected to fall as rain, soaking a previously wetted snowpack.

Two weak layers may exist around 70 to 120 cm deep in the snowpack. The first is a surface hoar layer from mid-January and the second is a layer of faceted snow from early January. These layers haven't produced recent avalanches, but the potential remains until these layers bond to the snowpack.

• Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Start with conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.
• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.