Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Very large persistent slab avalanches continue to be reported around the region. Many were reported to have failed on the weak layer from early March, and others failed on the mid-February weak layer. Thursday, multiple size 2 (large) persistent slab avalanches were triggered remotely and by riders, up to 70 cm deep.

A large and widespread wet loose avalanche cycle produced avalanches to size 3.5 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Variable wind affect and wind slab covers open terrain at upper elevations. A crust is found up to 1400 m and higher on solar slopes.

Where a thick, supportive surface crust is found, we expect that triggering avalanches on buried weak layers is unlikely.

Three layers of concern currently exist in the upper-mid snowpack. Surface hoar and a crust that formed in mid-March can be found 30 to 70 cm below the snow surface. Below this, another layer of surface hoar that formed in early March can be found at a depth of 60 to 100 cm. Additionally, a layer of facets, surface hoar, and/or a crust from mid-February is buried 120 to 200 cm deep.

The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated, and there are no current concerns.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace snow flurries. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.

Sunday

Partly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level rises to 1200 m.

Monday

Mostly sunny. 10 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level rises to 1400 m.

Tuesday

Partly cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be aware of the potential for large, destructive avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Cornice failures could trigger large and destructive avalanches.