Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

No new avalanches over this past week. Conditions will change abruptly into the weekend with heavy snowfall on Friday night. A natural avalanche cycle is expected to occur and human-triggering fresh storm slabs will be very likely.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

30 to 60 cm of new snow will have accumulated by Saturday morning, with deeper deposits in wind-loaded terrain. Below this new snow, a melt-freeze crust exists on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. The middle and lower snowpack are strong and bonded.

Friday night

Cloudy with snowfall, heavy at times, with 20 to 40 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest 25-60 km/h. Freezing level 600 metres.

Saturday

Cloudy with convective flurries, 5-15 cm of accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 40 km/h from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 800 metres.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind light from the southwest. Freezing level rises to 800 metres.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind light from the northwest. Freezing level rises to 900 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use increased caution at all elevations. Storm snow is forming touchy slabs.
• Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
• Stick to non-avalanche terrain or small features with limited consequence.
• Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where the consequence of any avalanche could be serious.