Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Overnight and Sunday: A series of storms are poised to move across the region over the next few days. Expect very strong Southwest winds to develop overnight as 5-15 cm of snow falls above about 900 metres elevation. Winds should become more Westerly as the precipitation tapers off during the day.Monday: Expect another 10-15 cm starting overnight and continuing during the day combined with strong Southwest winds. Freezing level is expected to rise to about 1500 metres.Tuesday: There should be a bit of a break in the precipitation overnight and during the morning. The next pulse should start in the afternoon.

Storm snow avalanches continue to be reported up to size 1.5 and loose snow sluffing out of steep terrain continues. Whumpfing, cracking, and settlements reported from all aspects at lower elevations. Forecast new snow and very strong winds are expected to add to the load above the buried weak layers. Human triggering is expected to continue, and natural avalanches may result from the new storm loading.

30-40 cm of recent storm snow has been transported into deep pockets of wind slab on North thru East aspects. Below the storm snow there is about 20 cm of snow from last week that buried the late January layer of crusts and/or facets and surface hoar. This persistent weak layer from Late January continues to be the sliding layer for natural and human triggered avalanches. The mid snowpack is well settled and strong. The deeply buried weak layers of early season facets and depth hoar have been dormant, but they may become reactive with the right combination of added load and warm temperatures. The forecast new snow and wind are expected to add to the load above the late January weak layer, and may result in avalanches running naturally or increased sensitivity to human triggers at this interface.