Avalanche Forecast

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

Thursday: Light snow. 5-10cm. Light to moderate south-west winds. Freezing level at valley floor.Friday/Saturday: Clear and sunny. Light winds. Afternoon temperatures rising on sunny slopes, with the freezing level falling to valley floor at night.

On Tuesday, little activity was reported, except a size 1 storm slab which was triggered by a skier. On Monday, natural avalanches up to size 3.5 failed on southerly aspects down about 100-150cm on the mid-February persistent weak layer. Avalanches releasing on this layer are becoming less frequent. Solar warming is of particular concern over the next few days, as it could destabilize storm slabs and cornices, potentially initiating deep failures on the mid-February layer. Be particularly wary of sunny aspects during the heat of the day.

15-30cm of recent storm snow overlies various surfaces including settled snow, wind slabs and crusts. New wind slabs have formed in the alpine and at treeline. Sunny breaks on Sunday caused moist snow up to about 2400m on solar aspects and up to about 1500m on all aspect. Cornices have grown large and unstable. The new snow has added to the well consolidated storm slab that overlies weak surfaces that formed early February. This interface, which lies 1-2m below the surface, includes a widespread surface hoar instability that, depending on aspect and elevation, may exist in combination with facets or crusts.