Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
The forecast calls for a gradual drop in the freezing level. Until the temperature cools off substantially, the snowpack is primed for human triggering at lower elevations. A conservative approach to terrain selection is still recommended.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problem 2: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Several weak layers of concern are buried within the snowpack and have the potential to produce large avalanches. Conservative terrain with moderate-angled, supported slopes are good choices.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or shooting cracks.
- Be aware of thin snowpack areas where deeper weak layers may be more sensitive to triggering.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday there was a size 2 deep persistent slab avalanche triggered by a snowcat on a southeast aspect at 1900m. This avalanche was 180cm deep and ran on facets sitting on a rain crust buried at the end of November. The snowpack in the region remains suspect with several buried weak layers displaying classic signs of instability such as whumpfing and cracking.
The recent video posted to the Avalanche Canada South Rockies field team Facebook page paints a pretty clear picture. https://www.facebook.com/avcansouthrockies/videos/1894352117306941/.
Snowpack Summary
A crust has more than likely formed on the surface of the snow with the warm temperatures and/or rain experienced on Monday. About 20-50 cm of recent snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer.
About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Isolated flurries, accumulations 5-10cm Monday night into Tuesday / Moderate to strong west wind / Alpine temperature -4 / Freezing level 1000m
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -11
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -8
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New snow and moderate to strong wind wind this week have created wind slabs in leeward areas near ridge crest in the alpine and in exposed treeline areas.