Storm slabs may be deeper than expected, with moderate winds accompanying recent storms. Keep an eye out for touchy storm slabs in alpine, treeline, and upper below treeline elevations.
20 to 25 cm of new snow has developed touchy storm slabs where new snow has buried surface hoar and facets that formed on hard wind-pressed and melt-freeze crusts.
Storm slabs formed throughout the day yesterday were reactive to skiers where the new snow has not bonded well to the large surface hoar layer.
On Saturday, several size 1 to 1.5 storm slabs were skier-triggered, and a size 2 was remotely triggered in the Fernie area. Avalanche activity is expected to continue and possibly increase in size as flurries continue and winds pick up.
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20 to 25 cm of new snow has buried a surface hoar layer that has been growing on various surfaces of wind-pressed snow, sun crust, and facets.
The snowpack is shallow and faceted, with depths of 60 to 80 cm at treeline and the upper end of below treeline. Below this snowpack depths taper quickly.
Saturday Night
Cloudy with flurries continuing, bringing total storm accumulations to 15 to 20 cm. Southwest alpine wind 15 to 20 km/h. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy with flurries, bringing 4 to 8 cm of new snow. Southwest wind 25 to 35 km/h, increasing throughout the day. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Monday
Cloudy with flurries, light accumulation. Southwest wind 10 to 15 km/h. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Tuesday
Cloudy with mixed precipitation, snow turning to rain,10 to 25 cm accumulation. Southwest wind 30 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2300 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
