Recent winds have left behind wind slabs and built cornices. Keep track of where you are in the terrain to avoid these areas.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Around 10 cm snow beginning late morning. Freezing level near valley bottom. Moderate to strong southerly winds, with the chance of strong outflow winds at low elevations. Alpine high -5. Expect a further 10 cm snow overnight.WEDNESDAY: 10-15 cm snow. Freezing level near 1200 m. Moderate south-easterly winds. Alpine high near -3. Expect a further 20 cm snow overnight. THURSDAY: 10-15 cm snow. Freezing level near 1400 m. Moderate southerly winds. Alpine high near -2. More details can be found in the
Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous size 1-2 storm slabs and cornice falls were triggered by explosives control on Monday. Human triggering of avalanches slowed down. While the recent storm slab problem is improving, incoming weather is expected to create new avalanche problems by Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Up to 140 cm recent storm snow was shifted into slabs on slopes lee to the south-east to south-west. In general, the recent storm snow is slowly gaining strength and settling. New storm slabs are expected to build by Tuesday afternoon. At treeline and below, the storm snow sits on two weak layers that are down 80-100 cm and 150-200 cm. These layers consist of surface hoar (feathery crystals) in more sheltered areas and a crust on solar aspects and on all aspects below 1500m.In the lower snowpack, a weak layer of facets (sugary snow) is now over 200 cm deep. There have been no reports of avalanches on this layer for over a week, but it may still be reactive to heavy loads (such as a cornice fall) in isolated areas.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
