Avalanche Forecast

High -

TUESDAY NIGHT - Clear periods / north winds 10-15 km/h / alpine low temperature near -19WEDNESDAY - Mainly sunny / northwest winds 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -16THURSDAY - Mainly cloudy with light flurries, 3-5 cm / southwest winds 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -12FRIDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with scattered flurries / northeast winds, 10-15 km/h / alpine high temperature near -15

Natural avalanche activity began to slow down on Sunday, but a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January continues to be reactive to human triggers. This layer is sensitive enough for humans to trigger avalanches remotely (from a distance). Human triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on both Sunday and Monday. This MIN report of an avalanche in the Slocan area on Sunday illustrates the continued reactivity of the mid January layer.Widespread avalanche activity was reported on Friday and Saturday. Numerous natural and explosives triggered avalanches to size 3, and human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported. Many of these avalanches were triggered remotely (from a distance) and failed on the mid January layer.

20-70 cm of recent new snow sits on wind slab, surface hoar (feathery crystals), facets (sugary snow) and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. In many areas, recent winds have formed wind slabs on all aspects due to shifting wind directions. The most notable feature in the snowpack at this time is a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January, which is now buried 40-90cm. This layer consists primarily of surface hoar, however there is also a crust associated with it on sun-exposed slopes. This layer is the most prominent at treeline and below, and continues to produce avalanches.