This Will be a Week of Dubyas: Windy, Wet and Warm! Expect increasing hazard and widespread natural avalanche activity by Tuesday.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
Monday: Cloudy with rain or snow increasing in intensity later in the day. The freezing level is around 1800-2000 m and winds are 30-50 km/h from the S-SW. Tuesday: Rain, heavy at times. The freezing level could climb as high as 2300-2500 m and winds could be gusting close to 100 km/h from the south. Wednesday: Continued heavy rain or snow. The freezing level remains above 2000 m and southerly winds should keep cranking.
Avalanche Summary
No new reports of avalanches but I expect this will be an active week. A natural avalanche cycle is likely with potential for some large, deep slides. Please let us know what you're seeing out there at
forecaster@avalanche.ca.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10-15 cm of moist new snow now covers the previous variable snow surface that consisted of facets (dry sugary snow) and surface hoar in sheltered areas, or pockets of old wind slab and an ice crust in open wind-exposed terrain (depending on aspect). Fresh new wind slabs may have formed in open north and east facing slopes, especially below ridges and behind terrain features in the alpine. There are probably a couple notable crusts in the upper to mid snowpack. The deeper crust may be associated with a weak layer of facetted snow, but may be limited to slopes at and above treeline. One recent snowpack test on this layer in the northwest part of the region produced a sudden "pops" result down 80 cm on a north aspect at treeline. Snow pack depth and snow quality drastically diminishes as you drop below treeline.
Peter,
Avalanche Canada
