Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Early reports Thursday witnessed blowing snow and winds quickly redistributing fresh flurries to lee features.

On Tuesday, explosives triggered several thin wind slabs up to size 2 in open areas above treeline. In the Nigunsaw area, a skier triggered a 35 cm thick slab on a steep roll, failing on large surface hoar on a crust. Evidence of older avalanches to size 2, 20 to 30 cm deep were also reported, failing on either surface hoar or a crust.

Up to 20 cm of fresh flurries covered 10 to 30 cm older, wind-affected snow. Steady winds are quickly impacting any loose snow.

The crust from early December is now buried 20 to 40 cm. In some areas, large surface hoar crystals are found at this interface. We are trying to track this surface hoard distribution across the region - most recently, the layer was reactive to skiers in the Ningunsaw area.

Below, the lower snowpack has no layers of concern.

Thursday night

Cloudy with flurries, trace to 5 of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C.

Friday

Cloudy. 20 to 40 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.

Sunday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace to 5 cm. 50 to 70 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
• Avoid freshly wind-loaded features, especially near ridge crests, rollovers, and in steep terrain.
• Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for slabs before you commit to it.