Avalanche Forecast

Wednesday's reports showed a rapidly settling 15-20 cm becoming increasingly reactive with daytime warming and yielding numerous skier-triggered avalanches to size 1 and naturals to size 2 in the MacGillivray Pass area. At least one size 2 was observed running on the persistent facet/crust layer from early February.

A report from the Hurley was less severe with dry loose releases transitioning to shooting cracks and small releases on isolated east aspects at treeline.

15 - 20 cm of rapidly settling snow from the early part of the week has buried a variety of previous surfaces including a crust on south aspects, and all aspects at lower elevation, faceted snow and/or small surface hoar in sheltered features, and previously wind-affected surfaces in the open. Areas where wind loading has increased the depth of new snow and where larger preserved surface hoar is buried are the most concerning.

Roughly 40 - 50 cm of snow now sits above a widespread crust from late January. Weak grains like facets or more unlikely surface hoar may be found above this crust. This problematic layering remains a concern with new load above it.

Snowpack depths decrease rapidly below treeline.

Thursday night

Cloudy. 15 to 20 km/h southwest alpine wind. Freezing level falling to 1300 m.

Friday

Cloudy. 15 to 25 km/h southwest alpine wind, increasing. Treeline temperature -2°C with freezing level around 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing less than 5 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 15 to 25 km/h southwest alpine wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C with freezing level to 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with flurries bringing 5 - 15 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 40-50 km/h southwest alpine winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C with freezing level to 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.