Watch for fresh wind slab formation if you notice the wind pick up. Check out the latest Forecasters' Blog for tips on managing the ongoing persistent slab problem in this region.
Fresh wind slabs are likely to form ay upper elevations as the wind picks up this weekend. Lingering reactivity may also be observed in older wind slabs on a variety of aspects.
A persistent slab problem formed by a crust down 50-150 cm has created a low likelihood, high consequence scenario that is difficult to forecast.
Avoid likely trigger spots such as steep, rocky slopes with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack.
Friday night: Clear. Light northwest wind. Alpine temperature around -25 C.
Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate northwest to southwest wind. Alpine high around -18 C.
Sunday: Increasing cloud with flurries starting in the afternoon. Strong southwest wind. High of -10 C.
Monday: 10-20 cm new snow. Strong southwest wind. High of -7 C.
On Thursday, small (size 1) natural and artificially triggered wind slabs were reported in the alpine.
A few surprisingly deep older crowns were observed between Fernie and Sparwood on Friday. These suspected persistent slab avalanches likely ran on the early December crust around the same time as the explosive triggered size 3 persistent slab reported on December 27th.
Recent winds have created wind slabs on a variety of aspects and created a lot of variability in the upper snowpack.
The most notable layer of concern in the snowpack is a crust that was formed in early December and is now down 80-150 cm. The most recent reported avalanche on this layer was on December 27th. Activity on this layer has been sporadic. It has generally been triggered on steep, rocky slopes, with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack.
This layer has created a low likelihood, high consequence scenario which is best managed through conservative terrain choices and disciplined backcountry travel techniques.
