Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Watch for wind slabs in open areas at treeline and above. And, be mindful of cornices along ridgelines, a cornice failure could trigger slabs on the slopes below.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices that could possibly trigger slabs.
Avalanche Problem 2: Cornices
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Cornices are reported to be large and there have been recent observations of cornice releases.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.
- Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.
Avalanche Summary
Wednesday small loose wet point releases were reported from steep rocky solar aspects.
On Tuesday, small avalanches were observed in the Alexander Creek area. On Monday, small natural avalanches were reported from the region, and ski cutting produced similar small avalanches on wind-loaded features. Also on Monday, 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.
Snowpack Summary
10-15 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
TONIGHT: Flurries. Accumulation 2-8 cm. Ridge wind light, east. Alpine temperature near -15. Freezing level valley bottom.
FRIDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods. Ridge wind light, west. Alpine temperature near -5. Freezing level 700 m.
SATURDAY: Mainly cloudy, light flurries. Accumulation 2-8 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, southwest. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 800 m.
SUNDAY: Cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 2-8 cm. Ridge wind moderate to strong, west. Alpine temperature near 0. Freezing level 1800 m.
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Shifting winds have formed wind slabs in leeward terrain on a variety of aspects.