Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

Expect 5-10cm of snow Monday night with 80km/hr SW winds. By Tuesday morning, the winds will drop down to 60km/hr from the SW in the alpine. This snow and wind will add a new wind slab to the surface. Temperatures will climb to about -6c in the alpine.

On Sunday, a size 2 slab avalanche was skier triggered in the Burstall Pass area.  

A size 2.5 slab natural avalanche was also reported on Sunday on a NE aspect on Mt. Kid around 2500m.

Banff National Park, which has a similar snowpack has also been reporting avalanches caused by skiers.

The most important things happening are in the upper 50cm of the snowpack. 

The forecasters measured 0c at 2200m today and definitely noticed the warmth penetrating the snowpack below this elevation and settling it.  

Wind slabs should be on your radar. There are several generations of wind slabs in the upper snowpack and the one closest to the surface has been skier triggered over the weekend. To add to that, snow and wind will add yet another fresh wind slab on the surface. Lee features and gullies look especially primed for triggering especially with the fresh wind slab that should form Monday night. This is a time to approach open areas at treeline and the alpine with respect and take the time to dig and evaluate the bonds between the wind slabs. There has been skier triggered avalanches in K-Country and Banff National Park which is an indicator that conditions are not completely stable.

It is also time to start thinking about the south facing slopes. If the sun is out and it is hot out, the steeper southern slopes could be a concern for avalanching.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Avoid lee and cross-loaded terrain.
• Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.