Avalanche Forecast

No new avalanches since Saturday.

On Saturday, several rider triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1 on steep treeline and alpine features. A few small natural and skier-triggered wind slab avalanches were reported at treeline where the wind had built more cohesive pockets of snow.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Winds that were southwest, switched to the northeast and may have created wind slabs on all aspects.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north-facing high alpine terrain, the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.

The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

If you are a visual learner click here for a video describing the snowpack.

Tuesday Night

Clear, no accumulation, winds easterly 35 to 45 km/h, freezing level reaching 1700 m.

Wednesday

Sunny, no accumulation, winds northeast 15 km/h switching to the west 10 km/h, freeing levels 1800 m.

Thursday

Mostly sunny with increasing clouds late in the day, possible trace accumulation at higher elevations, winds 10 to 15 km/h, freezing levels 1600 m, and cooling.

Friday

Cloudy, 10 cm accumulation, winds southwest 25 km/h, freezing levels to 600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
• The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.