Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

Monday: Mix of sun and cloud / Moderate to strong westerly winds / Alpine temperature of -14Tuesday: Light flurries / Moderate to strong westerly winds / Alpine temperature of -12Wednesday: Light flurries / Light and variable winds / Alpine temperature of -13

On Saturday, fairly widespread skier-controlled wind slab avalanche activity was observed. Most of the avalanches, which ran in higher elevation lee terrain, were in the size 1-1.5 range. With ongoing wind and snowfall wind slab avalanches are expected to increase in size and frequency, especially in areas where the mid-February interface remains reactive. Although deeper, persistent avalanche activity has become less frequent over the past week, light triggers in shallow rocky areas, as well as large triggers such as a cornice collapse or step down from a wind slab release, still have the potential to result in large destructive avalanches.

About 15-30 cm of new snow now covers old surfaces which include of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects and surface hoar on shaded, wind-sheltered slopes. I suspect strong winds will have redistributed much of the new snow into fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain.40-60 cm below the surface you'll likely find another interface with similar character and distribution that was buried mid-February. This layer has been reactive in recent snowpack tests and is definitely worth keeping an eye on as the overlying slab gains thickness and cohesion.Within the mid and lower snowpack are several persistent weak layers that are beginning to show signs of improving but still remain suspect. Two surface hoar/ crust layers buried in January are now 150-200 cm below the snow surface. At least one of these layers can be found on all aspects and elevations.Deeper in the snowpack (200 - 250 cm deep) is a facet/crust/surface hoar layer buried in December that is most prevalent at treeline elevations and below.Near the base of the snowpack is a crust/facet combo layer buried in late November.