Avalanche Forecast

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 20 to 30 cm, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -8 C.

THURSDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -2 C, freezing level rising to 1200 m.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 50 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 to 10 cm, 30 to 50 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -3 C.

Riders triggered small storm slab avalanches on Tuesday, generally at treeline elevations and on northerly aspects.

Storm slab avalanche activity is anticipated to increase on Thursday due to the new snow.

We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling, even just a photo, on the Mountain Information Network.

Around 20 to 40 cm of snow is forecast for Wednesday night into Thursday, which will likely form new storm slabs in areas sheltered from the wind and wind slabs in exposed terrain. This snow will sit on surface hoar in sheltered areas and build on the 100+ cm of snow that has fallen since January 1. The snow will switch to rain below about 1200 m by the end of the day.

All of this snow overlies various old surfaces that formed during the cold spell in late December. They include a thin but hard melt-freeze crust or ice layer found up to about 1700 m, weak and sugary faceted grains or feathery surface hoar in areas sheltered from the wind, or hard wind-affected surfaces in terrain exposed to the wind. There is uncertainty in how long it will take for all this snow to bond to these various surfaces, but preliminary reports suggest that the snow is stabilizing.

The middle and base of the snowpack are strong, consisting of well-bonded snow and a few hard melt-freeze crusts.

• Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy snowfall.
• Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.