Avalanche Forecast

High - We are confident the likelihood of avalanche will increase with the arrival of the forecast weather.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Saturday's storm begins to ease with winds shifting to the southwest in the 50 - 60 km/hr range and still snowing.

SUNDAY: Continued stormy conditions with southwest 40 km/hr winds, temperatures around -5 - -10 C, and storm snow accumulations of 15 to 25 cm, much deeper with wind deposits.

MONDAY: Wind starts to diminish, still from the southwest, light snow with less than 5 cm accumulating, temperatures cooling to around -10 C.

TUESDAY: The next storm is forecast to arrive. It's looking warmer, windier, and juicier than this weekend's weather. Hopefully temps will stay below freezing ... stay tuned for updates!

No avalanches reported that I'm aware of but honestly, the rear-view mirror of past avalanches is more than likely old news. The new news is going to be all about increasing winds and incoming snow. Expect hard and soft wind slabs to be developing Saturday. My guess is they'll have become rider triggerable late Saturday so check the MIN for Saturday's observations

The winter snowpack is growing, and settling. Winds are moving it around which is helping fill in creeks and gullies at the expense of windward slopes and terrain bulges being stripped. Anywhere from zero to 150 cm. In the trees at Fraser our weather station is showing 75 cm. Winds are increasing so softer surface snow will be re-distributed and in some places those crusts down 15 will become the surface.

With Saturday's storm, soft and hard slabs will become the snowpack feature to note.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.