The consequence of triggering a large persistent slab avalanche warrants a cautious approach to steep open terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number of field observations
Weather Forecast
SATURDAY: Cloudy with sunny periods, light winds, alpine temperatures around -5 C.SUNDAY: Cloudy, light to moderate southeast winds, alpine temperatures around -7 C.MONDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light to moderate east winds, alpine temperatures around -10 C.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported on Friday. On Thursday, avalanche reports were limited to a size 1 skier-triggered wind slab on a steep convex below treeline feature.Wind slabs may remain possible to trigger in isolated locations over the weekend. The main concern continues to be the possibility of triggering the weak faceted layers deeper in the snowpack, although uncertainty revolves around what type of loading or weak spots are required for human triggering.
Snowpack Summary
Recent flurries and winds have formed hard wind slabs on lee features in exposed terrain, while warm temperatures have moistened the upper snowpack below treeline. The snowpack is quite variable throughout the region. In deeper snowpack areas, the snowpack appears to be well settled with isolated concerns about the mid-December facet layer buried 50 to 100 cm deep. In shallow snowpack areas and lower elevations, the snowpack is heavily faceted. Triggering a persistent slab in thinner snowpack area may result in a full depth avalanche.
shorton,
Avalanche Canada
