Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
The best riding will be found in wind protected areas but make sure you aren't below cornices or in convoluted terrain with variable and thin snow coverage.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- If triggered, the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, resulting in large avalanches
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Avoid steep slopes below cornices.
Avalanche Problem 2: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Deeply buried weak layers are most likely to be triggered from thin or variable snowpack areas; or with a large load, like a cornice fall.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.
Avalanche Summary
No new reports received Monday.
Snowpack Summary
Cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.
The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns that are generally widespread:
1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.
2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
Monday and overnight to Tuesday morning is a period of relative calm, meaning no new snow but a moderate westerly wind kept blowing.
TUESDAY: Dry with moderate to strong westerly winds and temperatures around -5 to -10 at treeline. Mix of sun and cloud with more cloud on the west side of the ranges and sun on the east.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: The weather pattern is expected to shift to a more southwesterly flow with slightly warmer temperatures each day. Freezing level climbing to near 1500m by Thursday afternoon. Continued dry.
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Touchy wind slabs may be found on a variety of lee and cross-loaded slopes at and above treeline.