Avalanche Forecast

Thursday; there was a close call when a skier triggered a size 1.5 avalanche on the S/SW side of Cheops and was able to self arrest; and a skier triggered slab avalanche on a S facing moraine.

Wednesday there was a widespread natural cycle in the highway corridor, triggered by wind.

Tuesday, there was a skier triggered avalanche on the W Side of Cheops.

Early in the week, there were a few skier triggered avalanches reported.

*All skier triggered avalanches failed on a suncrust.

15-25cms of recent storm snow overlies variable wind slabs/wind effect in open terrain, and settling facetted snow in sheltered areas below treeline.

A sun crust, down 40-55cm, and most prominent at treeline, has been the failure plane for isolated large skier triggered avalanches recently.

Below 2100m there is decomposing crust down 70-80cm (from Dec 5th/6th).

The Dec 1 surface hoar layer is down 90-120cm and is decomposing.

Flurries this weekend, as a fading front dribbles inland. Expect a temperature inversion, as heavy cold air is slowly pushed out.

Tonight: Scattered flurries (5cm). Low -5°C. Light South ridgetop wind.

Sat: Isolated flurries. High -1°C. Freezing level (Fzl) 1800m. Light SW wind.

Sun: Scatered flurries (4cm). Low -4°C, High -2°C. Fzl 1700m. Light SW wind.

Mon: Isolated flurries. Low -6°C, High -3°C. Light S wind.

• Avoid freshly wind loaded terrain features.