Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Freezing levels are uncertain on Friday

The freezing level is expected to drop down to about 600 metres by Thursday morning. Thin high clouds combined with light southerly winds and warm temperatures are forecast for Thursday. Warm temperatures with freezing levels up to about 1200 metres are expected to continue overnight into Friday. Friday is expected to be warm with light winds and high clouds. A weak pulse of precipitation may move into the region on Friday afternoon bringing trace amounts of snow to higher elevations. The ridge of high pressure is expected to re-build again on Saturday, bringing cooler temperatures. Mostly clear skies may produce intense solar radiation during the day on Saturday.

Soft slab avalanches up to size 1.0, some skier controlled and some skier accidental on steep NE facing alpine terrain. One natural cornice reported as size 2.5 on a NE aspect in the alpine.

The new snow has developed soft slabs in the alpine and at treeline. Storm slabs that developed on the weekend have gained significant strength, as have the heavy storm snow accumulations from last week. Cornices should also be on your radar as strong southwest winds and steady snowfall have contributed to impressive development. About a metre down there are a variety of older snow surfaces that formed throughout January. These surfaces include facets, old wind slabs, and crusts. These interfaces have also gained considerable strength, but triggering may be possible with a heavy load in isolated terrain. Previous concerns about deeper persistent weak layers appear to have diminished. Snowpack depths at treeline are in the region of 260 cm.