Avalanche Forecast

High -

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: An intense frontal system arrives tonight, 40 mm of precipitation starts as snow but quickly turns to rain as freezing level rises to 2000 m, strong wind from the south, treeline temperatures rise to +3 C.

THURSDAY: Intense rain in the morning and moderate rain in the afternoon (50-70 mm), strong wind from the southwest, freezing level around 2000 m and treeline temperatures around +3 C.

FRIDAY: As the frontal system leaves the region freezing level lowers from 2000 to 1200 m meaning at some point rain will transition to snow (possible accumulations of 10-25 cm), moderate wind from the south, treeline temperatures drop to 0 C.

SATURDAY: Scattered rain showers and snow flurries (5-15 mm) with freezing level around 1200 m, light wind from the south, treeline temperatures around 0 C.

A few small (size 1) storm slabs have been reported over the past few days, but wet loose avalanches will be the main story for the next few days due to heavy rain.

Heavy rain up to 2000 m on Thursday will soak the surface of the snowpack at all elevations and create the potential for wet loose avalanches. Recent rain has created a strong and settled snowpack, which is now 250-300 cm deep around the peaks of the North Shore mountains.

• As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
• Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.