***updated 6:28 due to greater snowfall overnight than expected***
Avalanche danger is increasing. Choose simple terrain, avoiding overhead hazards.
Weak layers persist within the upper 90 cm of the snowpack. Avoid shallow areas where triggering these layers is more likely.
If you find more than 15 cm of new snow, there is likely a storm slab problem. The deeper the new snow, the more dangerous the avalanche conditions will be.
On Thursday there was a large (size 2) natural wind slab from extreme terrain in Kakwa. (see photo)
As the new snow piles up, avalanche activity will increase. Weak layers buried in the snowpack mean larger than expected avalanches may occur.
Ongoing snowfall adds to 5 cm over a melt-freeze crust on all aspects to 1600 m.
A weak layer of surface hoar or facets is found 20 to 50 cm down in many areas. A second weak layer buried 60 to 90 cm consists of surface hoar, facets, and/or a hard crust. These persistent layers remain a concern, with the potential for large step-down avalanches.
Friday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of snow. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.
Sunday
A mix of sun and cloud with 5 to 20 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
