Avalanche Forecast

Tuesday night: Increasing cloud with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow. Light west winds.

Wednesday: Cloud and isolated flurries diminishing over the day. Light north winds. Alpine high temperatures around -12.

Thursday: Sunny. Light to moderate northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -13.

Friday: Mainly cloudy. Light northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

No recent avalanche activity since early last week when a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 (very large) took place in the North Shore mountains. Dense bridging layers of snow and crust are expected to have effectively neutralized the problem since that time. Avalanche hazards at this time are more likely confined to surface instabilities specific to recently wind-loaded areas.

Recent wind has varied in direction, forming wind slabs in lee terrain features on a variety of aspects at upper elevations. These are likely diminishing in cohesion and reactivity under the influence of cold temperatures.

100-150 cm of snow sits over a widespread persistent weak layer. This weak layer consists of a thick crust with weak facets and/or surface hoar on top of it in many areas. Many terrain features where this layer presented an avalanche problem were cleaned out in a previous avalanche cycle. Where it remains preserved, this layer is becoming more difficult to trigger due to bridging by overlying dense snow and crusts, especially at lower elevations.

Click here to watch North Shore Rescue's snowpack conditions update from Friday.

• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.