Avalanche Forecast
Regions: South Rockies.
Confidence
Poor - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
The sub-tropical storm cycle will continue through Thursday bringing another round of light precipitation, strong southwest winds and freezing levels at about 2500m. As the system moves east on Friday there may be lingering light snowfall, light southwest winds and freezing levels at about 1800m. By Saturday a dry ridge should develop bringing clearing skies, light northwest winds and freezing levels at about 1200m.
Avalanche Summary
Loose wet avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on Wednesday in the Elk Valley North area between 1600 and 2000m.
Snowpack Summary
Recent warming suggests snow surfaces are likely moist or wet at most elevations. There is at least one, maybe more, problematic layers in the mid and lower snowpack. About 90cm of settled snow overlies a weak layer of facets and crusts which formed during November's dry spell. Not much is known about the reactivity of this layer, nor the slab above it, but I'd assume it exists in most alpine terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 5
Loose Wet
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3