Avalanche Forecast

SATURDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds, 40 to 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 1 C, freezing level 1500 m.

SUNDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 to 30 cm, 40 to 60 km/h south wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level 1000 m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, 20 km/h northeast wind, treeline temperature -3 C, freezing level 1000 m.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature 2 C, freezing level 900 m.

Loose wet activity and some cornice failures have likely occurred in the past few days from spring-like conditions. Looking forward, storm and wind slabs are likely to be triggerable on Sunday as they build during and after the storm. Loose wet avalanche activity may continue below the rain-snow line.

A storm will impact the region on Sunday, bringing snow above around 1000 m, and rain below. Storm slabs are expected to rapidly form over the day. Below the rain-snow line, rain will soak an already wet snowpack. Strong south wind will form wind slabs in exposed lee terrain features at treeline and alpine elevations. The snow will fall onto previously wet or crusty snow except at high elevation northerly aspects, where it should fall onto wind-affected snow in exposed terrain or perhaps small surface hoar crystals in sheltered terrain. Cornices have been reported as being massive and fragile.

• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
• Extra caution is needed around cornices under the current conditions.