Avalanche Forecast

Limited observations have been submitted for this area. On Tuesday and Wednesday, in neighbouring regions, large (size 2 to 3) natural and rider-triggered persistent and deep persistent slabs have been reported in the alpine and treeline.

We are unsure if the same deep persistent slab problem exists in this region, and this uncertainty is best managed through conservative terrain choices.

The upper snowpack is heavily wind-affected in the alpine and treeline. Below treeline a new crust is on or near the surface.

The mid pack contains several layers of note; a layer of surface hoar and a crust down 20 to 40 cm, a significant crust from the early December rain event down around 50 cm and a layer of surface hoar down 50 to 90 cm.

The make up of the lower snowpack is variable throughout the region, in shallower snowpack areas, basal facets may exist.

Thursday night

Overcast becoming clear with no new snow. South alpine wind 15 to 50 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud, no new snow. Southeast alpine wind 15 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1600 m with an above freezing layer in the alpine up to 2500 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud, no new snow. Southeast alpine wind 40 to 60 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with flurries up 3 cm of accumulation. Southeast alpine wind 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature -2 C. Freezing level 1400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use careful route-finding and stick to moderate slope angles with low consequences.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.