Avalanche Forecast

Avalanche activity over the past few days has been limited to small (size 1) wet loose avalanches on steep solar aspects and a few natural cornice failures that did not trigger slabs on the slopes below.

If you head into the backcountry, consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network!

A dusting of new snow is falling on moist or crusty snow layers, except shaded terrain above roughly 1400 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week.

The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts.

The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. There hasn't been avalanche activity on it recently, but it will remain on our radar this spring as it may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.

Thursday night

Increasing cloud, light flurries with 1 to 3 cm of snow, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -7 °C with freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Friday

Cloudy, scattered flurries with 1 to 3 cm of snow, 40 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -4 °C with freezing level climbing to 1000 m.

Up to 5 cm of snow overnight then clearing to a mix of sun and cloud, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C with freezing level climbing to 800 m.

Mostly sunny, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -5 °C with freezing level climbing to 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.