Recent snow has refreshed ski quality in many areas, but the cold temperatures are coming!
Extreme cold magnifies the consequence of an accident. Choose lower risk terrain, bring extra clothing, and leave yourself extra daylight hours to deal with an accident if you decide to venture out.
Recent strong west and southwest winds have created windslabs in alpine lee terrain. We suspect these are mainly in alpine ridgetop features, but be on the lookout for signs of wind affect as you approach any steeper alpine terrain.
In most areas the base of the snowpack consists of weak facets and depth hoar. Avalanche activity on this layer has been minimal but the consequenses of triggering it remain serious. Use caution in steep terrain or on planar slopes where failures in these basal facets are more likely to propagate.
Lake Louise snow safety reported some small wind slabs up to size 1 out of steep alpine terrain and some small windloaded pockets in treeline terrain. Sunshine snow safety triggered two size 2's with explosives in steep alpine lee terrain.
Parks forecasters saw some cracking in treeline wind affected terrain but no reactivity.
Wednesday will be the last day of bearable temperatures before the extreme cold sets in on Thursday.
Wed: Light to moderate west winds. Temps ~ -15 cooling to -20 through the day. 2-5 cms snow.
Thurs: Light east winds. Temps -30. 1-2 cms snow
Fri: Calm, sunny and really cold!!
For more information, click Mountain Weather Forecast.
