Reactive wind slabs may exist at upper elevations and could step down to deeper weak layers possibly producing a large avalanche. Use a conservative approach and terrain selection as the snowpack remains variable in the region.
Summary
Confidence
Low - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries and ridgetop winds moderate from the West. Alpine temperatures near -10. Freezing levels 1100 m. Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridgetop winds light from the North West. Alpine temperatures -12 and freezing levels near 800 m. Monday: Mostly sunny with ridgetop winds light from the South West. Alpine temperatures near -10 and freezing levels at valley bottom.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche observations have been reported from the region. There is potential for triggering reactive wind slabs on leeward slopes. Smaller avalanches may step down and trigger larger avalanches on buried weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Please submit your observations this weekend to the
Mountain Information Network. Snowpack Summary
The snowpack remains highly variable with very little information regarding snowpack structure within the region. Average snowpack depths at upper elevations range from 60-110 cm with scoured snow surfaces on southwesterly slopes and deeper pockets of wind slab on northeasterly slopes. Below the surface exists a series of crusts that were buried near the end of November approximately 40 cm and 70 cm down. Deeper in the snowpack a third crust from the end of October exists as a "facet/crust" combo and has been identified as a potential sliding interface where snowpack testing North of the region (Kananaskis Country) is proving hard but sudden collapse results.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
