Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Thursday should be relatively dry before the next frontal system reaches the coast on Thursday evening. Precipitation is expected for Friday and Saturday. Heaviest amounts are expected for the south of the region.Thursday: Cloudy, dry conditions during the day, snowfall in the evening, freezing level am: 500m pm: 900m, ridgetop wind light S-SWThurs. Night/Friday:Snowfall10-25cm, freezing level am: 500m pm: 900m, ridgetop wind 30-50 km/h S-SWSaturday: Snowfall light to moderate, freezing level am: 500m pm: 1000m, ridgetop wind light to moderate S-SW

Widespread natural avalanche activity is being reported on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Storm slabs continue to build. In the north of the region, the storm slab is up to 1m thick. The south of the region had less snowfall and the slab is roughly 60cm thick. These slabs sit on a weak layer which may consist of any of the following: hard wind slabs or wind-scoured slopes in exposed terrain, a thick layer of faceted snow on sheltered, shady slopes, isolated surface hoar on sheltered, shady slopes, and sun crust on steep solar aspects. Expect moist or wet snow below roughly 1000m elevation. The mid February weak layer of surface hoar or a crust/facet combo is typically buried over 1.5m deep. This layer continues to react in snowpack tests, primarily on sheltered north aspects at or below treeline. The weight of the new snow and rain has the potential to reactivate this layer resulting in large, destructive avalanches. Basal facets and/or depth hoar remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the northern part of the region.