Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Wind effect is extremely variable

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Alpine temperatures near -12C. Ridgetop winds moderate from the east.MONDAY: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -9C. Ridgetop winds moderate gusting strong from the east-northeast.TUESDAY: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -12C. Ridgetop winds moderate occasionally gusting strong from the east-northeast.WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Alpine temperatures near -6C, freezing level rising to 800 m. Ridgetop winds light from the northeast.

A MIN report Sunday reported a natural size 2 avalanche in the Shames backcountry. The slab avalanche failed on an exposed and cross-loaded feature, likely sometime late Saturday (see the report here). On Saturday, while traversing a bench feature skiers remotely triggered 3 small (size 1) storm slab avalanches in steeper terrain. Additionally, a helicopter remotely triggered a larger size 2 storm slab avalanche. These avalanches occurred in similar steep terrain on west to north aspects around 1300 m and failed 30-50 cm deep on the recently buried surface hoar layer.Avalanche observations since Thursday's storm include several small (size 1-1.5) storm slab avalanches at lower elevations and some larger wind slabs (up to size 2) at higher elevations.

20-50 cm of snow fell over the region on Thursday and Friday forming reactive storm slabs. Strong outflow winds are reshaping the surface and forming fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain. The new snow has reportedly buried a new layer of surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as a new sun crust on solar aspects. In most areas, the new snow collectively overlies hard, previously wind affected surfaces or crust. In limited sheltered areas, it may overlie an older layer of faceted (sugary) snow.In the south of the region, the remainder of the snowpack is well-settled. Around Bear Pass and in the north of the region, you may find two weak layers of surface hoar buried between 50 and 100 cm. The base of the snowpack may also be composed of weak and sugary faceted snow.