Avalanche Forecast

Nothing new today.

5-20cm of recent snow overlies previous wind slabs and sun crust on solar aspects. Expect moist snow on solar aspects if the sun comes out.

The snowpack is quite complex as all of the following layers are all weak:

1. Buried sun crusts on solar aspects down 20cm will provide a good sliding layer for the new snow to slide if the sun comes out. Be aware of what is above you.

2. Last weekend's wind slabs are now buried up to 20cm and have possibly been one of the triggers to wake up deeper layers in the snowpack.

3. The February 2 crust is down approximately 70-100cm and has started to facet out around itself, providing a good sliding layer. This layer was the trigger for most of the avalanches on Sunday.

4. The basal facets found near the bottom of the snowpack have been triggered by failures of the above layers.

Careful route selection is key as well as taking a closer look at the snowpack to understand where all the weaknesses lie.

GHOST FORECAST AREA

The Ghost area has more snow than usual. With this warming trend, pay close attention of what is above you. Wet loose avalanches and cornice failures are possible in this forecast region. Ice climbers should choose routes appropriately.

Thursday is looking like a great day. A bit of morning cloud will drift off by mid morning with mostly clear skies behind it. The afternoon will probably see some build up, but nothing too serious. Temperatures will start at -15, but come up to 0 by mid afternoon. Freezing level will be about 2000m. Winds will be light from the W to NW. No snow.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
• Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.