Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Forecast precipitation (either snow or rain) amounts are uncertain.

SATURDAY NIGHT: No significant precipitation expected, light west/southwest wind, freezing level near valley bottom.

SUNDAY: A few clouds at dawn building to overcast by lunch, a few cm of snow possible during the day, moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 1700 m. 2 to 10 cm expected Sunday night.

MONDAY: Overcast, 1 to 5 cm of snow possible, strong southwest wind, freezing level around 1700 m. Another 1 to 3 cm possible Monday night.

TUESDAY: Broken cloud cover, no significant precipitation expected, moderate west wind, freezing level around 1500 m.

A bit of new snow and wind Saturday may form some thin new wind slabs that rest on a slippery crust.

No new avalanches have been reported since Tuesday, when natural wet avalanches were reported on steep sun affected slopes to size 1. 

The region picked up a bit of new snow Saturday, by day's end Castle was showing almost 10 cm on their storm board which is coming in with a bit of southwest wind.

Previous to this, snow conditions were getting a little desperate as evidenced in this MIN report from our field team. The upper snowpack is going through a daily melt-freeze cycle. A crust exists on all aspects to around 2500 m and likely to mountain top on sun affected slopes. Warm temperatures and sun are softening or breaking down the crust during the day and creating moist snow. At very low elevations, the snowpack may be wet and isothermal, depending on overnight freezing levels.

Below 1700 m, the snowpack has been reported as being moist to ground, and is becoming isothermal.

• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
• Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
• Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
• Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.