Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

Saturday: A system south of the border will send moderate precipitation into the region, accompanied by moderate southwesterlies. 15cm is possible. Freezing levels could climb to 1500m. Sunday / Monday: A series of lows will push precipitation into the region with continued southerly flow and freezing levels reaching 1200m.

Natural, explosive and human triggered avalanches have been reported up to size 2.0 failing on the March 26 interface. At lower elevations (where the surface is moist) these are running as loose events and at higher elevations the new snow is propagating as a slab.There was one sympathetic triggered avalanche that release on the early February weakness 150cm deep.

30-50cm of new snow now overlies the March 26 interface. This has been accompanied by consistently moderate and at times gusty southwesterly winds forming windslabs in lee locations. Cornices loom, and will continue to grow with this weather pattern. The March 26 interface is a crust on all aspects except true north treeline and alpine, where small surface hoar (5mm) is present in sheltered places. The bond between the new snow and this interface is weak, especially where the surface hoar is present. At lower elevations (1600m and below), the high freezing levels have made the new snow heavy and moist. The deep, persistent early February surface hoar lingers in the snowpack giving sudden results in testing. Concern remains with heavy triggers and rapid loading.