Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - The snowpack structure is generally well understood.

Sunday night: 5 to 15 cm of new snow expected with strong southwest winds. Low of -2 at 1500 m.

Monday: cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow expected. Moderate to strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 1500 m. 

Tuesday: cloudy with flurries bringing 5 cm of new snow with strong southwest winds. Freezing levels rising to 2000 m.

Wednesday: cloudy with around 5 cm of new snow expected. Strong southwest winds in the morning and light in the evening. Freezing level aaround 1900 m.

On Saturday ski cutting and explosive control produced storm and wind slab avalanches up to size 1.5. These avalanches were generally in the immediate lee of ridge features at treeline and above. Several small cornice failures were also reported.

Wind slabs can be found on north and east aspects at treeline and above. south facing slopes are pressed or scoured in the alpine. Moist snow could be observed at lower elevations.

30 to 90 cm overlies the mid March layer. This layer presents as surface hoar in shady, wind-sheltered areas and a hard melt-freeze crust on all aspects below 1700 m and on sun-exposed slopes into the alpine.  

Over one meter deep, a layer of facets may be found above a melt-freeze crust that formed in February. This layer had been most reactive on north and northeast aspects between 1600 and 2100 m. This layer is currently considered dormant. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.