Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
New snowfall over the day will fall with strong winds. Expect to find wind slabs in lee terrain features.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Keep an eye out for localized areas of deeper snow accumulation, particularly on eastern slopes.
- Observe for signs of instability, such as cracking, whumpfing, and avalanche activity.
- Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline where wind slabs are expected.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, small to large (size 1 to 3) wind slabs were triggered naturally, generally on northerly to easterly aspects, in alpine terrain.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs exist on all aspects in exposed terrain, produced from variable wind directions that redistributed last weekend’s storm snow. In sheltered locations, expect to find dry snow in shady areas or wet snow on southerly aspects. This snow overlies a crust found up to 2200 metres. On shaded aspects at treeline in parts of the region, a layer of surface hoar is found about 40 cm down.
The midpack is well-settled and strong, which overlies sugary facets in thin snowpack areas.
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Cloudy with light snowfall, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, moderate to strong westerly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 m.
SATURDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light easterly winds, alpine temperature -15 C, freezing level 700 m.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds with light snowfall, moderate southwesterly winds, alpine temperature -5 C, freezing level 1500 m.
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Strong westerly winds have produced wind slabs in lee terrain features. Expect new snowfall to form reactive wind slabs at higher elevations as well.