As winds pick up, expect fresh and sensitive wind slabs to form near ridge crests. Watch for areas where deep pillows of snow accumulate.
Unconsolidated snow that has been protected from the wind is likely to sluff in steep terrain features. Ensure your route plan strives to avoid terrain traps especially cliffs.
As winds increase, expect new and sensitive wind slabs to begin to form in lee aspect terrain and cross-loaded areas.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, explosive avalanche control and testing near Fernie, produced numerous small ( size 1 to 1.5 ) slab avalanches, These failed on the storm interface that was down approximately 20 cm. Additional control results included large cornice triggers that produced large (size 2) storm slab avalanches that in one case stepped down 100 cm in depth.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a MIN report!
Snowfall of up to 10 cm from the past 24 hours is dry and unconsolidated and when the wind begins to increase will easily be transported and begin to form windslab. Below this, past storm snow accumulations vary across the region from 30 to 50 cm and are settling. Below 1500 m elevation a previously moist surface is now dense and refrozen. A melt freeze crust can be found throughout the region and is down variable depths from 5 to 20 cm.
The mid and lower snowpack is generally well-settled and stable.
Snow depths at treeline range from 140 to 220 cm.
Thursday Night
Cloudy, with isolated flurries. 1 to 5 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with light snowfall 5 to 10 cm. 5 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Saturday
Cloudy, with periods of clearing. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.
Sunday
Cloudy, with snowfall 15 to 25 cm. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
