Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Choose supported terrain features and watch for wind slabs near ridgetops.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices that could possibly trigger slabs.
- Caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday a few old small wind slabs (size 1) were observed in the Alexander Creek drainage.
Small natural avalanches (size 1) were also reported in the region on Monday. Ski cutting produced similar small avalanches on wind-loaded features, and explosives triggered one size 2 wind slab avalanche on an east aspect at 2300 m. This avalanche ran on a 60 cm deep crust layer.
On Saturday, a large slab avalanche was observed in a burn around treeline. The avalanche was triggered by a snowmobile on a convex terrain feature. Check out the MIN report here for more information and photos.
Snowpack Summary
10-30 cm of snow sits above a variety of crusts on all but high north aspects. Northern parts of the region have less new snow than southern parts. Wind has formed hard slabs in lee features, and in some cases the snow may be poorly bonded to the crusts.
Multiple crusts exist in the top metre of the snowpack. Some parts of the region may have a surface hoar layer roughly 60 cm deep on north aspects at treeline.
A well settled midpack sits above sugary facets in many parts of the region, especially thin snowpack areas.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries, moderate west wind, freezing level up to 1200 m, alpine high temperatures near -5 C.
THURSDAY: Light flurries with 5-15 cm of low density snow, light to moderate south wind, freezing level near valley bottom with alpine high temperatures near -12 C.
FRIDAY: Morning flurries then clearing in the afternoon, moderate west wind, freezing level up to 1200 m, with alpine high temperatures near -4 C.
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Shifting winds have formed slabs in lee terrain on a variety of aspects.