Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

SUNDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 2-4 cm / light northeast winds / alpine low temperature near -16MONDAY - Mainly cloudy with sunny periods / northeast winds 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -14TUESDAY - Sunny with cloudy periods / northeast winds 15-25 km/h / alpine high temperature near -14WEDNESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / northwest winds, 15-35 km/h / alpine high temperature near -12

Widespread avalanche activity continued on Saturday. Natural avalanches to size 3, explosives triggered avalanches to size 2 and human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported. Some of these failed within the new storm snow, but many of them reportedly failed on a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January. Many of the human triggered avalanches were triggered remotely (from a distance).On Friday a widespread natural avalanche cycle to size 3, as well as numerous human triggered avalanches to size 2 were reported. Some of these failed within the new storm snow, but many of them reportedly failed on a persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January.On Tuesday, in the neighboring Glacier National Park region, a size 3 avalanche was skier triggered on a steep southeast facing slope in the alpine. More details and photos here.

20-70 cm of new snow has fallen in the region since Thursday. The highest amounts fell in the northeast corner of the region: east of the Columbia (Upper Arrow Lake) and north of Trout Lake, with a few exceptions. This new snow sits on wind slab, surface hoar (feathery crystals), facets (sugary snow) and a crust on sun-exposed slopes. Recent strong to extreme winds have formed wind slabs at all elevations.A persistent weak layer that was buried in mid January is now buried 40-90cm. This layer consists primarily of surface hoar, however there is also a crust associated with it on sun-exposed slopes. This layer has been most reactive at treeline and below.