Avalanche Forecast

Moderate -

Tuesday Night: Flurries 1-5 cm, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing levels falling to 1700-1900 m by the morning.

Wednesday: 5-10 cm of snow possibly 10-15 cm in the south of the region. Strong wind in the morning decreasing to moderate west in the afternoon. Freezing levels around 2000 m falling to 800 m in the evening.

Thursday: Light snow 3-5 cm, light to moderate south wind, freezing levels around 1000 m.

Friday: Trace of snow, light north wind, skies clearing, freezing level valley bottom.

Tuesday: Neighbours immediately to the south reported a widespread, wet avalanche cycle to size 3. Several natural size 2 wet avalanches were seen on Wapiti Mountain near Elkford.

Monday: Several natural size 2 storm slab avalanches were spotted by the South Rockies field team just north of Sparwood. In the southeast of the region operators reported size 1-1.5 skier controlled storm slabs and loose wet avalanches.

Snowfall amounts have varied substantially since the start of the week with south of highway 3 receiving 30-50 cm and the north getting 10-20 cm. This fell as rain at lower elevations. Wind loading from moderate to strong southwest wind continues. New snow will need time to bond to a variety of old surfaces such as firm wind-pressed snow, sun crust on solar aspects, and potentially weak, sugary crystals on shaded aspects.

The middle and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer from early December found near the bottom of the snowpack. It is currently considered dormant but could become active later this season. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
• The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.