Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Regions
South Rockies.
Variable storm slab/ wind slab conditions: make observations continually as you travel.
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
An unsettled NW flow brings light snow and cold temperatures. Tonight: trace; Wednesday: 2-5 cm; Thursday: 2-5 cm; Friday: trace. Winds are generally light. The freezing level stays at the surface. For more details check out https://avalanche.ca/weather.
Avalanche Summary
A few naturally triggered size 1-2.5 storm slabs have been observed over the last two days. Numerous loose dry avalanches were also reported.
Snowpack Summary
The series of recent storms has left us with around 50-80 cm new snow. Strong to extreme SW winds in specific areas in the south of the region on Sunday created wind slabs at all elevations. These may now be buried by subsequent snowfall, making them hard to spot. Cornices exist on many ridge crests. Recent storm snow overlies a hard rain crust. This strong, thick crust seems to be effectively isolating the lower snowpack.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.