Avalanche Forecast

Tuesday Night: Cloudy with isolated flurries. Light west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Light west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -6. Freezing level 1000 m.

Thursday: Flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm. Light to moderate southwest wind. Alpine high temperatures around -7. Freezing level 900 m

Friday: Scattered flurries. Moderate west wind. Alpine high temperatures around -9. Freezing level 600 m

On Monday there were reports of wind slabs and cornices running naturally size 1.5 to 2 on south east and north aspects in the alpine. There was also a report of a skier triggered size 2 wind slab on a southeast aspect at 2300 m. This was described as an old wind slab which was obscured by 20 cm of new snow.

Reports from Saturday, Sunday show numerous loose dry avalanche size 1-1.5 running in steep terrain in the alpine and at tree line as well as several natural and skier/rider triggered wind slab avalanches size 1-1.5 on a variety of aspects at treeline and in the alpine.

30-50 cm of snow falling over the last week now overlies older wind-affected snow at high elevations as well as a widespread melt-freeze or rain crust with an upper extent that varies from 1900 metres in some areas to mountaintop in others. This snow has been redistributed by moderate to strong winds blowing from a variety of directions. The depth of new snow diminishes considerably at lower elevations. 

The mid and lower snowpack are generally well settled and strong, but contain two deeper weak layers that we have been tracking since the early part of the season. The late December surface hoar layer, buried 100 to 180 cm deep, is now suspected to be dormant.

A facet/crust layer from November exists near the ground in the highest elevations of the region. It remains a limited concern that is likely only able to be triggered with a large load, in high elevation, thin snowpack areas of the Selkirks and the southern half of the region.

• Be careful as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.