Avalanche Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear and starry. Alpine temperature drops to -18 C. Light winds from the east.

SATURDAY: Mainly sunny. Alpine temperature rises to -3 C. 5-15 km/h wind from the south.

SUNDAY: Sunny. Alpine temperature rises to -2 C. 10-25 km/h winds from the south.

MONDAY: Increasing cloud and incoming flurries. Alpine temperatures rises to +1 C, freezing level rising above 1600 m. Southeast wind increasing to 40 km/h. 

On Thursday, explosives triggered wind slabs up to size 2 on south-south east aspects. On Wednesday, glacial icefall (serac) triggered a large persistent slab avalanche (size 3). This avalanche occurred on o northeast aspect in the alpine and is suspected to have failed on a crust from early April. The triggering of this avalanche was only possible with an extremely large load and is not representative of the general conditions of the region as a whole.

Looking forward, avalanche activity is unlikely given the current cool, unsettled weather trend. However, always be ready for the possibility of pockets of wind slabs in steep alpine terrain, cornice failures, and wet loose avalanches if the sun is out.

Open terrain has been wind-affected, with recent wind scouring southeast slopes and loading snow onto east and north-facing slopes. Sheltered areas may still have soft snow. A widespread melt-freeze crust can be found 20 to 50 cm deep in most areas, and up to 80 cm in the snowiest parts of the region. This crust is near the surface below 1200 m.

• Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.