Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

High pressure conditions will remain for Wednesday and Thursday but a pulse of moisture may cross the region late Wednesday. A more organized system is expected for Friday and will likely result in light flurries or rain. Wx models are currently uncertain regarding precipitation amounts and timing for Friday.Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud, scattered flurries in the evening 0-3cm, freezing level 600-800m overnight, ~2000m afternoon, ridgetop wind 15-30 km/h SWThursday: A mix of sun and cloud, freezing level 800-1200m overnight, ~1700m afternoon, ridgetop wind light SWFriday: Snow or rain 3-10mm, freezing level 1000-1200m overnight, ~2000m afternoon, ridgetop wind 15-30 km/h SW

During the storm on the weekend, we saw widespread natural slab avalanche activity. Most of this activity involved the storm snow itself but there were numerous avalanches which stepped down to the early-March weak layer or possibly even the February weak layer. Now that the storm is over, natural activity is tapering off but large avalanches are still possible. On Monday, we received reports of slab avalanches up to size 2.5, both natural and human-triggered. At lower elevations, loose wet sluffing from steep solar aspects is being reported.

The weekend storm produced 30-50 cm of dense snow with strong southerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels have been cycling between valley bottom and roughly 1700m, and low elevation terrain saw significant rain on the weekend. Expect to find a crust at or near the surface below treeline. The early March melt-freeze crust is now down roughly 90-150 cm. This layer was found on all aspects at treeline and below, and on all but North aspects in the alpine. The early-Feb weak layer is down over 1.5m and is generally not a concern for human-triggering but avalanches or cornice falls have the potential to trigger it.