South Coast

The surface crust will deteriorate as warming and sunshine ramp up over the day. Once this occurs, wet loose avalanches are possible in steep terrain.

High

• Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

A large wet avalanche cycle occurred during the tail end of our most recent storm.

Since then, clear skies and overnight cooling have created a surface crust, and no new avalanches have been reported in the region since Monday.

As the crust deteriorates during daytime warming, loose wet avalanches are more likely. We expect this trend to continue until a change in weather patterns.

Overnight clear skies have formed a thick crust that overlies moist snow at treeline and in the alpine. Below treeline, the snowpack is fully saturated, and a crust may not have formed overnight.

The mid and lower snowpack is well consolidated. The snow height is down to 75-175 cm at treeline.

Thursday Night
Clear skies. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.

Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8 °C. Freezing level 3400 m.

Saturday
Sunny. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 9 °C. Freezing level 3300 m.

Sunday
Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 11 °C. Freezing level 3400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.
• Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.