Avalanche Forecast

Friday night: Heavy snowfall tapering overnight, accumulating 15-20 cm. Moderate to strong west winds. Alpine low temperatures around -10. Freezing levels dropping to valley bottom.

Saturday: Mix of sun and cloud with flurries starting in the pm bringing up to 30 cm of new snow overnight. Strong southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -5.

Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries bringing 10 cm of new snow. Moderate west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4. 

Monday: Mostly cloudy with flurries bringing 10-20 cm of new snow. Strong northwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around -4. 

A widespread avalanche cycle up to size 3 was reported from the neighboring Howson range during the storm on Friday. This cycle is likely to be ongoing throughout the southern part of the region where more than 40 cm of snow fell on Friday.

40-60 cm of new snow from the past 36 hours has been highly wind affected overnight by strong to extreme winds. Expect to find deep wind loaded pockets below ridgetops and the lee sides of features all the way down to treeline.

The new snow fell on a temperature crust up to treeline and extensive windslab at alpine and treeline elevations. The underlying snowpack is overall quite well consolidated, with an average depth of around 2 m. Two layers of surface hoar are now buried 80-150 cm deep but with a lack of recent associated avalanche activity, appear to be trending towards dormancy.

• Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.
• Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Sheltered low elevation terrain will likely offer the best and safest riding today.
• Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.