Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Wednesday: Cold air in the valleys, warmer air up high. An above freezinf level is expected from 2000-2500m. Some valley cloud is possible, clear at upper elevations. Light variable winds.Thursday: Pretty much a repeat of Wednesday, with more cloud developing in the afternoon and some moderate southwesterly winds.Friday: Cloudy with flurries. Inversions conditions may persist in some parts above 1800m. Moderate southwesterly winds.

Recent reports are of a few wind slab avalanches to size 1.5 and loose dry avalanches running in steep terrain. The character of avalanches is expected to change over the next few days, with slab avalanches becoming more likely as the upper snowpack starts to settle with warm temperatures. Please submit your observations to the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

15-30cm of low density new snow has buried a recently formed layer of feathery surface hoar and/or sugary facets. A layer buried mid-December that consists of surface hoar, sun crust and/or sugary facets is now down approximately 30-50cm. This layer is most prevalent in sheltered locations at treeline and below. Until recently, the snow above both of these weak layers has been soft and unconsolidated. Forecast warmer temperatures are expected to make the upper snow more dense, which could increase the likelihood of triggering on these layers. A crust which was formed by rain in late November is another major feature in the snowpack and is down approximately 70-100cm at treeline elevations.