Recent snow may be poorly bonding to the underlying surface.
Small wind slabs remain reactive in lee areas, and sluffing is likely in steep terrain.
Recent snow and wind have formed small but wind slabs in lee areas. These wind slabs may be bonding poorly to the underlying surfaces and be reactive to human traffic. In sheltered terrain where the new snow remains loose and unconsolidated, dry loose avalanches will initiate easily in steeper terrain.
Small wind slabs (size 1) were easily triggered by skiers on alpine convex rolls near Fernie over the weekend.
On Friday, numerous small (size 1) natural dry loose avalanches were observed and a few skier-triggered wind slabs (size 1) occurred at treeline. Old evidence of loose wet avalanches (size 1 and 2) is still visible on steep solar terrain aspects. They were triggered by strong solar radiation, earlier this week.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
At upper elevations, up to 15 cm of new snow overlies a crust on solar aspects, faceted snow and surface hoar (up to 10 mm) in shaded and wind-sheltered areas. Wind-affected surfaces are also found in exposed areas. At lower elevations, a crust exists on or near the surface.
The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled, although some test results have recently shown propagation in a persistent weak layer 70 cm below the surface near Leach Ridge. The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity.
Unsettled weather will continue to bring scattered flurries until a ridge of high pressure invades the region early next week.
Saturday night
Isolated flurries, local amounts up to 2 to 5 cm. Low alpine temperatures of -6 °C. Light southwest ridge wind. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods. Isolated flurries. High alpine temperatures of -3 °C. Light easterly ridge wind. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods. Lingering flurries. High alpine temperatures of -2 °C. Light southerly ridge wind. Freezing level rises to 1400 metres.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. High alpine temperatures of -3 °C. Light easterly ridge wind. Freezing level rises to 1400 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
