Akamina

Heightened avalanche conditions exist on steep and wind-affected slopes.

Observations from this region are limited, but a few wind slab avalanches have been reported each day since the storm earlier this week. This includes some large natural wind slab avalanches in steep rocky terrain (size 2), and some smaller explosive and skier triggered wind slabs up to 50 cm thick (size 1-1.5).

15 to 25 cm of snow has fallen over the past week and has been redistributed by wind from the southwest. A rain crust can be found beneath this snow up to roughly 2000 m. As usual, snow depths are highly variable in the southern Rockies. The middle of the snowpack is generally consolidated and sits above weak faceted snow near the ground. Under the current conditions, this structure is primarily a concern on steep wind-loaded slopes.

Friday night

Light snowfall with trace accumulations, 40 to 50 km/h wind from the southwest, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.

Saturday

Cloudy with very light snowfall, trace accumulations, 30 to 40 km/h wind from the west, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

Mostly sunny, no precipitation, 20 to 30 km/h wind from the northwest, treeline temperatures around -8 °C.

Sunny, no precipitation, light wind, treeline temperatures around -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
• Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.