Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain

The Northwest Inland should see a steady progression of relatively weak frontal bands through the weekend.  FRIDAY:  Freezing level around 1200 m, trace of snow, light to moderate southwest winds.  SATURDAY: Freezing level around 1300 m, 1 to 5 cm of snow, moderate to strong south/southwest winds.  SUNDAY: Freezing level holding at 1200 m, 1 to 5 cm of snow, light variable winds.

On Wednesday storm slabs to size 1 were reported on north/northeast facing terrain at treeline, running on the old melt freeze crust.  Small loose wet avalanches below treeline were also reported.  In recent days a natural cornice fall triggered a size 3 slab avalanche in the southwest corner of the region. The avalanche occurred on an east aspect in high alpine terrain and stepped down to a few persistent weak layers from January and December. This avalanche demonstrates how a cornice fall can trigger layers that may otherwise be difficult to trigger.

In the last 48 hours 5 to 20 cm of new snow has fallen with moderate to strong southerly winds. At treeline and in the alpine small wind slabs are expected to have formed. These wind slabs overlie a variety of surfaces which include a hard crust on solar aspects above 1300 m, moist or refrozen snow on all aspects below 1300 m, and settled wind slabs in exposed high elevation terrain. A layer of surface hoar from early March can be found down 50 to 70 cm but only seems to be a problem for the northern half of the region. Professional operators are still tracking two deep weak layers from early-January and early-February which can be found down about 1 meter or more. These layers are generally dormant but could wake up with substantial warming or a heavy trigger (like a cornice fall). Basal facets exist in most areas and have recently been reactive in the north of the region