Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Thursday

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Up to 5mm of precipitation / strong southwest winds / freezing level at about 2000m  THURSDAY: 5-10mm of precipitation / strong southwest winds / freezing level falling from 2000m to about 1500m  FRIDAY: light flurries / moderate southwest winds / freezing level at 1500m  SATURDAY: mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate northwest winds / freezing level at 1000m 

Small loose dry and loose wet sluffs were observed in the Crowsnest Pass area on Tuesday. In addition to a small wind slab avalanche in a lee alpine feature, there was also evidence of recent natural cornice failures. Looking forward, new snow and wind on Thursday is expected to spark a round of wind slab activity at higher elevations. At elevations where precipitation falls as rain, loose wet avalanches may be likely.

Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow sits on a melt-freeze crust on southerly aspects and lower elevation terrain, surface hoar on sheltered slopes, and older wind affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Widespread wind effect is evident in the alpine with fresh wind slabs forming in exposed lee terrain. Warming has  Cornices have grown significantly recently. A layer of buried surface hoar can be found between 50 and 70cm down and remains a concern, primarily west of the Continental Divide. Below 1500-1600 m the snowpack is essentially isothermal and very spring-like. The snowpack rests on a weak crust/facet layer from early December.