Avalanche Forecast

Low - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

THURSDAY NIGHT: Flurries, 10-15 cm snow. Moderate south wind with extreme gusts. Freezing level 1500m .FRIDAY: Cloudy with flurries, 5-10 cm snow. Moderate to strong southwest wind. Freezing level 1100mSATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 5 cm snow. Moderate southeast wind. Freezing level 1300 m.SUNDAY: Flurries, 5-15 cm snow. Light southwest wind with occasional moderate to strong gusts. Freezing level 1200 m.

No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday, however there was evidence of a natural avalanche cycle to size 2.5 on North to East aspects resulting from an wind event early this week. From Monday, ski cutting produced a few small wind slab avalanches (size 1) on freshly loaded slopes.

Fresh storm slabs are expected to develop with new snow into Friday. Several layers of small spotty surface hoar and thin crusts have been observed in the top 50 cm of the snowpack. Some snowpack tests suggest the snow may be poorly bonded to these layers in isolated areas. However, the main weak layer worth considering is still the widespread weak layer that formed in early December. The layer consists of a rain crust with a weak layer of feathery surface hoar and sugary facets and can be found 50 to 100 cm below the surface. Although there has not been a reported avalanche on this layer in over a week, the storm could be enough to reawaken it.