Skies going grey may make early season hazards tougher to manage on Friday. Don't let poor visibility lead you into a steep pocket of wind slab.
The base of our thin snowpack is weak and faceted. Steep pockets of deeper, wind-loaded snow are the most likely to break away from this weak base under the weight of a person or machine.
Last Thursday, a human-triggered size 1 was reported near Invermere at treeline on a west-facing slope. This avalanche failed on the facets at the base of the snowpack.
Observations are limited this time of year. Please consider filling out a MIN report if you do head out in the backcountry! 🙏
Surface conditions are an uninspiring mix of heavily wind-affected surfaces, melt-freeze crust on solar aspects, and 10-15 cm of faceting low density snow in sheltered and shaded areas. Large surface hoar has been spotted growing on most of these surfaces.
A crust with facets or depth hoar exists at or near the ground, which has produced avalanches in the East Purcells and nearby Kananaskis Country. The snowpack is shallower than average for this time of year with depths at treeline ranging from 20 -50 cm, and tapers rapidly below.
Expect early season conditions.
Thursday Night
Increasing cloud with isolated flurries. Southwest alpine wind 5 to 15 km/h.
Friday
Cloudy with isolated flurries. Minimal accumulations. Southwest alpine wind 5-25 km/h, increasing, strongest in the alpine. Treeline temperature -9.
Saturday
Cloudy with isolated flurries continuing from overnight. Less than 5 cm accumulations. West or southwest alpine wind 15-50 km/h, strongest in the alpine. Treeline temperature -8.
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow. Southwest alpine wind 25-60 km/h, increasing, strongest in the alpine.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
