Avalanche Forecast

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Monday: Cloudy with flurries in the morning followed by sunny breaks. The freezing level is around 800-1000 m. Winds are moderate from the W-SW. Tuesday: Periods of snow, heavy at times 20-40 cm (higher amounts are for Bear Pass). The freezing level is around 1200-1400 m and winds increase to strong from the SW. Wednesday: Periods of snow. The freezing level is around 1000 m. Winds remain strong from the SW.

Numerous natural loose wet avalanches up to size 2 were reported below treeline from warming temperatures and rain. There were also reports of many size 2-3 slab avalanches from higher elevations on a variety of aspects. Most of these seemed to release within the recent storm snow or on the previous snow surface buried on March 7.

The snow keeps piling up! Around 50-80 cm of recent storm snow now sits on previous snow surface of hard wind slabs or scoured slopes in exposed terrain and a thick layer of faceted snow on sheltered shady slopes, maybe with some surface hoar mixed in, and a sun crust on steep solar aspects. Expect moist or wet snow below 1000 m, possibly with one or two new crusts near the surface. The mid February weak layer of surface hoar or a crust/facet combo is buried 90-150 cm deep. This layer continues to react in snowpack tests, primarily on sheltered north aspects at or below treeline. Basal facets and/or depth hoar remain a concern in shallow snowpack areas in the northern part of the region.