Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Warm weather with minimal overnight cooling at treeline elevations. Strong gusting to extreme west wind, overnight low of -3, freezing level 1000 m.

SATURDAY: Warm with a mix of sun and clouds, strong wind from the west, high temperatures reaching +3 C as freezing level climbs to near 2000 m in the afternoon.

SUNDAY: Little overnight cooling at higher elevations, increasing cloud through day. Strong wind from the west, more cloud than sun, freezing level between 1500 and 2000m.

MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Decreasing moderate northwest wind, temperatures dropping to -5, and freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Small (size 1-1.5) storm slab and loose dry avalanches avalanches were reported late Thursday with new snow and wind, particularly where more than 30 cm of snow accumulated and wind exceeded 25 km / hr.

A reactive snowpack may persist through the weekend as warm temperatures weaken the snowpack and test upper and mid snowpack layers.

Strong westerly winds have impacted 20-40 cm recent storm snow in open areas at treeline and throughout the alpine. Gusty winds may have loaded terrain further downslope than usual.

The lower snowpack is generally strong and bonded, with one or multiple crusts near the ground. We suspect the lower snowpack could be weak in shallow rocky wind-affected slopes east of the divide.

• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• The more the snowpack warms-up and weakens, the more conservative you`ll want to be with your terrain selection.
• Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
• In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.