Avalanche Forecast

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

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with no precipitation, 40 km/h west wind, treeline temperature -7 C.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with snowfall, accumulation 5 cm, 30 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature -5 C.

SUNDAY: Early-morning snowfall then clear skies, accumulation 10 to 20 cm, 30 km/h south wind, treeline temperature 3 C, freezing level rising to 2300 m.

MONDAY: Cloudy with snow and rain, accumulation 10 to 20 cm above 1300 m and rain below, 40 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperature 0 C.

It is anticipated that an avalanche cycle occurred on Thursday night, caused by rapid loading from rain and snow. Avalanche activity is expected to decrease into Saturday, although it may remain possible for humans to trigger slabs where Friday's precipitation fell as snow. At lower elevations, any snow that accumulates on Saturday may slide easily on the melt-freeze crust.

We'd appreciate any observations while you are out travelling on the Mountain Information Network.

Rain soaked the snowpack below around 1200 m, which subsequently froze into a hard melt-freeze crust. Above 1200 m, new storm slabs formed from about 50 cm of snow from Thursday night. 

Around 100 to 150 cm deep, a thin and hard melt-freeze crust may sit above sugary faceted grains that formed during the cold spell in late December. Reports suggest that the snowpack may be bonding well to these previous surfaces.

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

• The new snow may require another day to settle and stabilize.
• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.