Avalanche Forecast

Low - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations. Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.

Thursday night: Cloudy with isolated flurries, up to 10 cm. Alpine low temperature -4 C. Moderate southwest wind.

Friday: Cloudy with scattered flurries, 5-10 cm. Alpine high temperature -4 C. Strong west wind.

Saturday: Flurries and snow, 10-15 cm. Alpine high temperature -5 C. Moderate southwest wind.

Sunday: Flurries and snow, 15-20 cm. Alpine high temperature -6 C. Moderate southwest wind with strong gusts.

No new avalanche observations were reported this week, this comes from a very limited observation network. 

Looking forward, new snow and wind forecast through Friday are likely to form small but touchy new slabs in leeward terrain, especially near ridgetop.

Flurries will be quickly impacted by strong winds, redistributing loose snow and building slabs. Surface conditions over the region are likely a mix of recent wind slabs and wind-affected snow as well as melt freeze crust on south aspects and below about 1100 metres.

A weak layer of surface hoar crystals buried early March may be found around 30 to 50 cm deep, particularly in sheltered terrain around treeline. Recent observations of this layer are lacking.

An early-season layer of faceted grains and melt-freeze crust near the base of the snowpack likely lingers in high alpine features. The most suspect locations to trigger this layer would be where the snowpack is thin near rocky outcroppings. Large loads, such as cornice fall, may have the potential to trigger it.

• Watch for avalanche hazard to increase throughout the day.
• Make conservative terrain choices and avoid overhead hazard.