Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

Sunday night: light east winds except in Kakwa where winds will be moderate from the west. No new snow expected and a low of -32 at 1300m.

Monday: light flurries with light winds except in Kakwa where winds will be moderate to strong from the west. High of -25 at 1300m.

Tuesday: Some flurries ending around noon with light to moderate north winds. high of -23 at 1300m.

Wednesday: light to moderate south winds with flurries throughout the day. High of -16 at 1300m.

On Thursday our field team observed some natural avalanche activity up to size 1.5 in steep or extreme terrain in the treeline while in the southern part of the forecast region.

Explosives on Thursday produced wind slabs up too size 1.5 in treeline and alpine start zones with limited propagation.

Easterly winds will have formed wind slab on west aspects and scoured the east. Cross loading could exist on other aspects. As the winds shift to the west in the Kakwa area new wind slabs could form on east facing slopes.

 

A surface hoar layer up to size 4 was recently buried, it is not yet a problem.

Snowpack depth at treeline typically ranges from 100-250 cm, with the shallower value mainly on the eastern side of the range and the deepest snowpack around Renshaw.

• Seek out wind sheltered terrain below treeline where you can avoid wind slabs and find great riding.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.
• Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.