Recently formed storm slabs remain reactive to human triggers on all aspects at treeline and above. The forecast rising freezing levels on Thursday are expected to increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches.
Recently formed storm slabs remain reactive on all aspects at treeline and above. Read the MIN report from Tuesday HERE.
High freezing levels are forecasted overnight and expected to rise quickly into the alpine Thursday. Expect the likelihood of loose wet avalanches to increase through the day, especially where fresh snow has accumulated.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy / Light, westerly winds / Alpine low 3 C / Freezing level 2500 m.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy / Light to moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 6 C / Freezing level 2700 m.
FRIDAY: Rain (snow above roughly 2300 m); 15-25 mm. / Moderate to strong, southwesterly winds / Alpine high 5 C / Freezing level 2500 m.
SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light, northwesterly winds / Alpine high 4 C / Freezing level 2000 m.
On Tuesday, a party skiing near Kootenay Pass reported "whumphing" on solar aspects near ridgetops and triggered a size 2 storm slab avalanche sitting on a crust on a north aspect at around 2000 m. See the MIN report HERE.
On Sunday, several small size 1 wind slabs were reactive to explosives, one size 3 wind slab avalanche was triggered with a very large explosive. Near Whitewater a skier triggered a windslab avalanche on a steep northwest aspect in the alpine. See the MIN report here.
20-40 cm recent snow is sitting on a crust on all aspects below 2000 m which has recently been reactive to riders. A warming snowpack will drive avalanche hazard as above 0 C temperatures climb to the high alpine. Below treeline snow is disappearing rapidly.
