Avalanche Forecast

The storm continues, a more intense front moves over the region bringing heavy rain and wind.

TUESDAY NIGHT: 30-80 mm of rain overnight with freezing levels at 2000 m. Strong southwest winds. 

WEDNESDAY: Heavy rain continues with 30-70 mm and freezing levels around 2500 m. Strong southwest winds. 

THURSDAY: The front exits leaving clearing skies and no precipitation expected. Freezing levels rise from 2000m to 2500m over the day, with light easterly winds. 

FRIDAY: Partly cloudy with no precipitation expected. Strong southwest winds return. Freezing levels 2300m. 

A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected to occur at all elevations with the heavy rain, snow and wind with rising temperatures over Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Small loose wet avalanches failing on the melt-freeze crust were reported on Sunday. and Monday. 

50-80 mm of precipitation fell mostly as rain in this region creating a saturated upper snowpack sitting over a melt freeze crust observed to 2000 m. Expect the surface snow to have little cohesion and slide easily on the crust below. 

Around 150 to 200 cm deep, a thin and hard melt-freeze crust may sit above sugary faceted grains that formed during the cold spell in late December. Reports suggest that the snowpack may be bonding well to these layers.

The middle and base of the snowpack are strong, consisting of well-bonded snow and various hard melt-freeze crusts.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
• If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.