Avalanche Forecast

Good

Sunday: Cloudy. Gradually cooling temperatures and clearing skies as a ridge of high pressure approaches. A few flurries. Light northerly winds. Freezing level valley floor.Monday: Clear with valley cloud. No precipitation. Light westerly winds. Remaining cold.Tuesday: Flurries on western slopes. Light-moderate south-westerly winds. Becoming slightly milder.

A large natural avalanche cycle occurred on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Slab avalanches were reported up to Size 3.5 on all aspects and at all elevations. There were also numerous reports of skier triggered and remotely triggered avalanches on a variety of aspects. The potential for human triggered avalanches remains high and it may be possible to trigger an avalanche from the bottom of a slope.

Deep wind slabs have formed on a variety of aspects at all elevations. Up to 1m of new snow now sits on the February 16th surface hoar layer. The February 8th interface is now down 100-140cm. This layer is a combination of weak layers: In most locations it marks a widespread surface hoar layer. On steep south- and west-facing aspects, a sun crust that formed during the drought was also buried on Feb. 8th. This crust probably has a bit of faceting below it too, meaning that most terrain in the region has a weak layer in the upper snowpack. These buried weaknesses have made conditions very tricky with the potential for triggering in low-angled terrain and from a distance. Large cornices remain widespread throughout the region.