Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

Recent reported avalanche activity has been limited to loose dry sluffing, and small rider-triggered wind slabs in lee terrain features at upper elevations. See photo below for an example. Thank you to all of the wonderful MIN users who submitted their observations over the 2024 season! We look forward to more of your reports in 2025.

10 to 20 cm of new snow with moderate to strong southwest wind, is forecast for overnight and throughout the day Thursday. The higher amounts are expected on the western parts of the Island.

This new snow will add to the current 20 to 30 cm of settling storm snow. 50 to 80 cm of older snow from last weekend is settling and bonding well to an underlying crust.

Below 1300 m, surfaces may be moist or crusty.

The remainder of the snowpack has no current layers of concern.

Snowpack depths at treeline are approximately 200 cm on the north and south Island, and 300 cm on the central Island.

Wednesday night

Cloudy, with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Friday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with 7 to 15 cm of snow. 50 to 60 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.
• Pay attention to the wind; once it starts to blow, sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.