Wind slabs are likely to be encountered at upper elevations and may be reactive to human triggering, especially in lee features.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Flurries, 5 cm / southeast winds, 20-50 km/h / alpine low temperature near -6THURSDAY - Periods of snow, 5-15 cm / southwest winds, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 FRIDAY - Periods of snow, 10-15 cm / southwest winds, 50-80 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1400 mSATURDAY - Mainly cloudy / southeast winds, 10-20 km/h / alpine high temperature near -1 / freezing level 1200 m / alpine temperature inversion
Avalanche Summary
A natural avalanche cycle to size 2 was reported in the region on Sunday night due to strong to extreme winds in some parts of the region.
Snowpack Summary
15-20 cm of new snow sits above previous wind-scoured surfaces as well as wind slabs in lee terrain features. Below treeline, the new snow sits on a melt-freeze crust. Strong winds have likely redistributed this new snow, creating fresh wind slabs.A few buried weak layers that consist of surface hoar (feathery crystals) and/or faceted (sugary) snow may exist in some sheltered areas. The upper layer is about 20-30 cm deep. The next layer is likely 40-60 cm deep. The lower one is now approximately 80-120 cm deep. The bottom 30 to 50 cm of the snowpack consists of facets and crusts, particularly in areas where the snowpack is thin. It is possible that wind slab avalanches could scrub down to ground in thin snowpack areas, resulting in large, full depth avalanches.
kdevine,
Avalanche Canada
