Avalanche Forecast

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

A low pressure center sitting SW of Montana will continue to move SE, this should be arriving in Southern Alberta by Thursday afternoon. Depending on timing and track, this low may spread moderate-heavy amounts of precipitation to the BC interior Wednesday night into Thursday and Friday. Ridgetop winds will start light-moderate from the South, switching moderate SW through Thursday. Freezing levels will fall to 1800 m. Light-moderate precipitation expected for Friday. Freezing levels near 1500 m. The weekend will see a fairly inactive ridge of high pressure dominating the interior, bringing sunny skies and freezing levels up to 2000 m. Confidence is poor for Thursday/Friday due to the uncertainty of the lows location in Alberta. This could potentially bring more than anticipated precipitation amounts to the regions.

On Wednesday many loose wet avalanches were reported up to size 2. A significant size 3 wet slab was also seen on a south aspect before lunch time.

Mild temperatures have settled out much of the upper snowpack. Spring-like conditions prevail; with surface crusts on solar aspects and melt conditions (no overnight re-freeze) on all aspects below 1700 m. Cornices are large and exist on most ridgelines. I don't expect this to be an immediate problem until it heats back up again, possibly Saturday. Up to 100 cm sits on the March 27th interface. This interface consists of a buried sun crust on southerly aspects and a temperature crust on more northerly slopes. A thin layer of facets and or surface hoar can be found on this crust on all aspects. The bond on this interface seems to be improving. The mid-pack is well settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack sits a weak layer of facets and depth hoar. I'd be suspect of steeper unsupported slopes where the snowpack goes from thin to thick.