Storm Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Very Likely
- Tamaño
- 1–2
Lots of new snow has fallen in the region with strong to extreme winds. Natural avalanches are expected.
Widespread natural avalanche activity is expected. Avoid avalanche terrain, including overheard hazard.
Lots of new snow has fallen in the region with strong to extreme winds. Natural avalanches are expected.
This storm is adding a big load to a deeply buried weak layer. Avalanches triggered on this layer will be large and destructive.
TUESDAY NIGHT - Snow, 20-30 cm / southwest wind, 40-80 km/h / alpine low temperature near -2 / freezing level 2000 m
WEDNESDAY - Flurries, 10-15 cm / west wind, 60-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1500 m
THURSDAY - Mainly sunny / light northwest wind / alpine high temperature near -8
FRIDAY - A mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate west wind / alpine high temperature near -7
A natural avalanche cycle is expected on Wednesday. This may include very large persistent slab avalanches.
On Sunday, there were a few explosives triggered persistent slab avalanches to size 2.5. These were reported to have failed on weak facets above a crust that was buried in early December.
On Saturday, explosive testing near Fernie produced several large persistent slab avalanches up to size 2.5 also failing on the early December persistent weak layer.
A couple of large (size 3) naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches were reported on large alpine features on Thursday. These avalanches were triggered by either smaller wind slab avalanches, or cornice falls. These are continued reminders of the "low probability; high consequence" scenario that persistent slab problems often create.
Tuesday brought upwards of 30 cm of new snow to the region, and another 30-45 cm with strong to extreme southwest wind is expected between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. Storm slabs are anticipated to be widespread and reactive.
Roughly 50-80 cm of snow is now sitting on a crust that extends up to 1900 m. In isolated areas below treeline, this recent snow may be sitting on a weak layer of surface hoar.
The main feature we are monitoring in the snowpack is a layer of weak faceted snow over a hard melt-freeze crust found around 90-150 cm down. Recent sporadic, large, naturally triggered avalanches have occurred on this layer on large alpine slopes and were triggered by either smaller wind slab avalanches, or cornice falls.