Avalanche Forecast

A natural avalanche cycle started Sunday afternoon on the East end of the Park from steep paths on Tupper and Mt MacDonald up to size 2.5. Expect avalanche activity to increase throughout the day on Monday as the storm continues and intensifies.

Artillery avalanche control is tentatively planned for Tuesday.

Over the last few days, 20-35cm of new snow covers surface hoar and a thin crust of steep solar aspects. This layer is showing Sudden Planner results in snowpack tests. Expect slab formation in exposed areas at and above tree line.

There is ~100cm of snow at tree line, which is below average for this time of year. Many early-season hazards still exist at or just below the snow surface.

The base of the snowpack consists of weak, sugary facets in most areas.

Finally, a notable system moves into the region on Monday afternoon bringing 10cm by early evening and another 20-30cm by Tuesday morning. Winds are forecasted to be 25-55km/h from the SW at ridgetops with an alpine high of -2 and a freezing level of 1400m.

Tuesday into Wednesday will see another 30-40cm and strong winds with a freezing level of up to 2200m.

• Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
• Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
• Be carefull with sluffing in steep terrain, especially above cliffs and terrain traps.
• Early season avalanches at any elevation have the potential to be particularly dangerous due to obstacles that are exposed or just below the surface.