Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to field data and reports showing a wide variation in conditions throughout the region.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with flurries, moderate west and northwest wind, alpine temperature -7 C, freezing level 500 m.

THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light west wind, alpine temperature -8 C.

FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 3-5 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, alpine temperature -5 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, moderate west wind, alpine temperature -6 C, freezing level 1300 m.

No recent avalanche activity has been noted. Expect to see an increase in wind slab activity on Thursday.

Up to 15 cm of snow falling in the south and west of the region Tuesday night came with moderate to strong southwest wind. This sits on previously wind-affected snow in exposed areas, soft snow and perhaps surface hoar in sheltered areas, and a hard melt-freeze crust or moist snow below about 1600 m.

You may find a couple weak layers of surface hoar in the top 50 cm of the snowpack, as suggested by numerous MINs in the region. This layer is expected to be found in terrain features sheltered from the wind, for example in openings below treeline or at treeline elevations. As the new snow forms slab properties, these layers could become reactive to human traffic.

Around 80 to 100 cm of snow rests above a weak layer buried in early-December which has created a persistent slab avalanche problem and a low probability/high consequence scenario. Depending on location, the buried weak layer is composed of surface hoar and/or a crust/facet combination. Reports suggest that this layer has become dormant in much of the region except for perhaps the Pine Pass area.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to the presence of a persistent slab.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.