Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Freezing levels above the mountain tops and sunny skies are warming the snowpack, particularly around midday. Best to avoid sunny slopes and overhead avalanche terrain. Read our blog on the impact of warming.
Avalanche Problem 1: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Steep, south facing slopes are the most likely areas to trigger deeper layers.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and shallow snowpack areas where triggering deeper layers is more likely.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger deep persistent slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Wet
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Rising freezing levels and sunny skies are causing intense warming of the snowpack on solar aspects. Pay close attention to the effects of the sun on avalanche terrain and avoid overhead exposure.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid terrain traps such as gullies and cliffs where small avalanches can have high consequence.
- Watch for signs that the snow is heating up such as pin-wheeling and point-releases below cliffs.
- Start early to staff off south facing slopes during the heat of the day.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous small loose avalanches were noted on solar aspects on Saturday with strong solar input.
The forecast warming and sunshine may wake up a deeper weak layer on steep south facing slopes resulting in large and destructive avalanches.
Snowpack Summary
20 cm of recent storm snow is settling rapidly with warm daytime temperatures. Expect moist snow on solar aspects and on all aspects up to 1400 m.
Cornices are large and prone to failure with warm air temperatures and sunny skies.
The upper/mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. The lower snowpack is weak with a combination of crusts and facets near the bottom of the snowpack that are widespread. The primary concern looking ahead is the potential of these deeper persistent weak layers becoming active by rapid warming of the snowpack through rising freezing levels and intense solar radiation. This is most likely to occur on south-facing slopes.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY: Sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 1 C, freezing level rising to 2500 m.
TUESDAY: Sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 3 C, freezing level 3000 m.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature 3 C, freezing level 2500 m.
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Avalanche Canada has switched to an RSS feed for its daily forecasts. This is a much more flexible method that allows automatic delivery to your email inbox, or to an RSS reader of your choice.
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- South Rockies URL:
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Deeply buried weak layers linger near the base of the snowpack. These layers are most likely to be triggered from thin snowpack areas or with a large load like a cornice fall. Avoid overhead avalanche paths and looming cornices.