Avalanche Forecast

High - We are confident a natural avalanche cycle will begin shortly after the arrival of the incoming weather.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: An intense frontal system arrives with 15-35 cm of snow above 1700 m, strong wind from the south, alpine temperatures climb to -2 C.

THURSDAY: Heavy snow that is most intense in the morning and total accumulations of 30-50 cm throughout the day, heavy rain below 1700 m, strong wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -1 C.

FRIDAY: Scattered flurries with 10-30 cm of snow, moderate wind from the southwest, freezing level drops to 1200 m with alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries and 5-10 cm of snow, light wind from the south, alpine high temperatures around -3 C.

The incoming storm will increase the likelihood of storm slab, deep persistent slab, and wet loose avalanches. Continuous storms over the past few days have resulted in numerous small (size 1) slab avalanches triggered by riders and larger (size 2) wind slab avalanches triggered naturally and with explosives. Recent explosive control suggests the deep persistent slab problem can still produce very large avalanches in parts of the region.

A frontal system crossing the region will bring 40-80 cm of new snow above 1700 m on Thursday, creating thick reactive storm slabs. The new snow is burying heavily wind affected snow in open terrain. A rain crust has been reported roughly 40 cm below the surface up to elevations around 2000 m, and as been a recent bed surface for avalanches. Weak faceted grains and crusts near the base of the snowpack continue to be a concern in inland parts of the region, including the Spearhead Range.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, avalanches may run surprisingly far.