Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Wind speed and direction is uncertain on Friday

Synopsis: An approaching arctic airmass will bring dry cold conditions throughout the forecast periodFriday: Sunny with cloudy periods / Winds: light to moderate from the northwest / Freezing level: 500m.Saturday: Sunny with cloudy periods / Winds: light from the northwest / Freezing level: Valley bottom.Sunday: Sunny with cloudy periods / Winds: light from the northwest / Freezing level: Valley bottom.

We've been receiving occasional reports of avalanche activity occurring on week layers close to the ground suggesting they haven't gone away yet. However, as the temperatures drop and tighten up the snowpack triggering these layer will become increasingly difficult.

Up to 20cm of snow now overlies a variety of old surfaces including stubborn wind slabs in exposed upper elevation terrain, well developed surface hoar in sheltered terrain and a crust on south aspects.The recent prolonged warm temperatures formed a strong and supportive midpack. Closer to the ground, the two weak layers we've been worried about thus far this season (the late November surface hoar, and a crust/facet combo from October) are still there. While the increased strength of the overlying slab has made these layers have become increasingly unlikely to trigger, large and destructive avalanches are still possible with the right input such as a cornice fall or a heavy load over a thin spot in steep terrain.