Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
A strong inversion and lots of sun in the alpine will promote natural avalanche activity today.
Ski/ride with caution; early season conditions mean rocks, trees, open creeks, etc are desperately trying to trip you up. It's a long season, stay safe!
Weather Forecast
One more day of warmth in the alpine, with plenty of sunshine. A snowy, windy storm looms Tues-Thurs.
Mon: nil precip, mod SW winds, Alp high +3*C, fzl rising to 3900m
Tues: 15cm snow, mod SW winds, Alp high of 0*C, fzl at 1800m
Wed: 30cm snow, mod/gusting extreme SW winds, fzl near 2000m
Thurs: 15cm snow, mod/gusting extreme SW winds, fzl 1900m
Snowpack Summary
A healthy 1.5+m snowpack in the alpine rapidly shrinks to 30-40cm at 1300m. A supportive rain crust, found up to 2200m, is ~30cm below the surface near treeline elevations. Variable soft wind slabs on lee alpine and treeline features, with scouring to near ground on windward slopes. Lots of rocks, trees, and open creeks below treeline.
Avalanche Summary
A major early-season cycle Thursday/Friday produced numerous avalanches up to sz 3 on Tupper, Macdonald, and the N side of Cheops to sz 3; many of these avalanches made it to valley bottom. Warm temps and sun yesterday produced loose avalanches from steep, solar aspects to sz 2.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Warm temps and sun will encourage loose avalanches from steep, S'ly aspects today. Avalanches are most likely when the sun is directly heating up the solar aspects.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Wind Slabs
Watch for dense lenses of snow as you transition off ridge-crests and onto lee slopes.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2