Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Mainly cloudy with clear periods / light northwest wind / alpine low temperature near -8 

THURSDAY - Mainly sunny / light northwest wind / alpine high temperature near -5 / freezing level 1500 m

FRIDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate west wind / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 2000 m 

SATURDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light southeast wind / alpine high temperature near 0 / freezing level 2500 m

There were no new avalanches reported on Tuesday.

On Monday, there were reports of small wet loose avalanches on solar aspects and a few small dry loose avalanches.

On Saturday, operators reported ski cutting small (size 1) pockets in the recent storm snow. Observers also reported loose dry sluffs in the new snow in steep terrain. See this MIN report for an example.

During last week's warm weather, a large (size 2) slab avalanche released naturally on a weak layer of facets near the ground in a shallow snowpack area east of the region near Apex.

The most recent avalanche observed on the late January persistent weak layer was reported February 28th, when large explosives produced very large (size 2-3) results at Kootenay Pass.

Wind slabs can be found in lee features at upper elevations. Dry, low-density snow exists in sheltered, shaded areas, and solar aspects likely have a crust on the surface.

Deeper in the snowpack, a persistent weak layer from late January is buried 80-150 cm deep and is composed of a combination of surface hoar, crusts, and facets. There is some lingering uncertainty about whether this problem remains reactive on isolated upper elevation slopes in thin snowpack areas. 

As described in this MIN report, shallow snowpack areas in the east of the region may harbor a faceted basal snowpack. This structure can typically be managed by avoiding shallow rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin. 

• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
• Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
• Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet