Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Friday

THURSDAY Night: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, light to moderate southeast wind, alpine temperature -9 C.FRIDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm , light to moderate southwest wind, alpine temperature -8 CSATURDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-15 cm, light west wind, alpine temperature -9 CSUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northeast wind, alpine temperature -13 C

Numerous size 1-2 windslab, storm slab and persistent slab avalanches were reported from areas in the south of the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. These were predominantly at treeline and in the alpine on all aspects. In the the north part of the region avalanche activity on Wednesday was primarily reported as windslabs to size size 1.5 on north, west and south aspects in the alpine and at treeline.

Up to 25 cm of new snow fell in the southern portion of the region (south of Nakusp) Tuesday into Wednesday. 5-10 cm fell further north. This new snow is sitting on previously wind-affected surfaces, sugary facets or feathery surface hoar. Beneath this lies two weak layers of surface hoar, which have produced large avalanches in the region. A layer that was buried at the end of January is around 30 cm deep and a layer buried mid-January is between 40 and 90 cm deep. The mid-January layer may also be associated with a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects. These layers are most prominent at treeline and below.The remainder of the snowpack is generally well-settled. However, there have been sporadic reports of very large avalanches that have released near the base of the snowpack. Most of the avalanches have been in the high alpine. There has been about one report a week for the past month.