Forecast snow and strong southwesterly winds on Sunday are expected to form fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.
Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Forecast snow and strong southwesterly winds on Sunday are expected to form fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.
A persistent slab problem formed by a crust down 50-120 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.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-5 cm / Strong southwest wind / Low of -21
SUNDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm / Strong southwest wind / High of -14
MONDAY: Snow; 5-15 cm / Moderate southwest wind / High of -9
TUESDAY: Cloudy / Light west wind / High of -10
No new avalanches were reported on Friday.
We've had consistent reports of persistent slab avalanches on reloaded bed surface crusts from the Invermere area this month. On Thursday, a size 1 was triggered remotely by bootpacking on a thin northeast aspect in the alpine. Explosive control work on December 26th produced large avalanches (size 2) on the crust found 40-70 cm deep.
Forecast snow and strong southwesterly winds on Sunday are expected to form fresh wind slabs on lee features at treeline and above.
A layer of weak surface hoar crystals may exist under the recent snow at treeline and below.
The most notable layer of concern in the snowpack is a crust that was formed in early December and is now down 60-120 cm. 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.
A late October facet/crust layer sits at the bottom of the snowpack above 1900m.
