Avalanche Forecast

High - The snowpack structure is mostly striaghtforward and not unusually variable.

Unsettled weather until the next storm arrives on Saturday.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with scattered flurries brining a trace of snow, moderate wind from the west with gusts to 50 km/h, treeline temperatures drop to -10 C.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries bringing up to 5 cm of low density snow, light wind from the west with some moderate gusts, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, no significant precipitation, moderate wind from the west, treeline temperatures around -8 C.

SATURDAY: Periods of snow with 10-25 cm by the afternoon, strong wind from the southwest, freezing level climbs to 1500 m with treeline temperatures reaching -2 C.

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to small sluffs (aka loose snow avalanches) running above the shallowly buried crust. There's potential for wind slabs near ridgetops, otherwise not much avalanche activity is expected until the next storm arrives on Saturday.

About 15 cm of recent snow is settling above the widespread crust that formed during last week's atmospheric river. In many areas this snow has been capped by a thin breakable crust. We suggest monitoring the bond of the snow to these upper crusts as there is potential for weak layers to develop around them. Snow depths are roughly 60-120 cm at treeline and the majority of the snowpack consists of thick crust layers.

• Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.