Avalanche Forecast

Sunday night: Light flurries bringing a trace of snow. Freezing level 1100 m. Strong southwest wind affecting all elevations.

Monday: 5-10 cm new snow. Freezing level 1400 m. Strong southwesterly wind affecting all elevations.

Tuesday: Around 5 cm overnight then clearing. Freezing level 700 m. Light to moderate southwesterly wind.

Wednesday: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level 1300 m. Light to moderate southwesterly wind.

By Saturday, reports of natural and human triggered avalanche activity quieted down but cornices continued to be reactive to explosives size 2-2.5. Minor pinwheeling was observed on steep solar aspects in the afternoon. On Friday, storm/wind slabs were reactive to human triggers around treeline to size 1. A natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 occurred during the storm on Thursday, primarily on north to east aspects 1500 to 2000 m.

20 cm of recent snow overlies a variety of old surfaces including facets, spotty surface hoar in wind sheltered areas around treeline, a sun crust on steep solar aspects and a rain crust below 1500 m. Upper level wind, having recently shifted northwest is likely transporting the recent snow into wind slabs in a reverse-loading pattern in exposed features at upper elevations. Older wind slabs formed by previous southwest winds may also remain reactive to human triggers.

Another weak layer buried in mid-February is composed of a crust, facets or spotty surface hoar depending on elevation/aspect, and is now down 50-80 cm. There have been no recent avalanches reported on this layer. Large triggers, such as an avalanche in motion, cornice fall, or intense loading from snow, wind and/or a rapid rise in temperature could awaken these deeper weak layers.

The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong in most areas.

• Keep your guard up at lower elevations. Wind slab formation has been extensive.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Minimize your exposure time below cornices.