Avalanche Forecast
The avalanche hazard has risen from Tuesday's storm plus rain at lower elevations destabilizing slopes in the short term. Make conservative decisions until the new snow has had time to settle and stabilize.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
A low elevation roadside avalanche size 1 near Parker's ridge released mid-storm touching the side of the road. Several storm slab size 1.5 noted. Visibility poor and limited to roadside but suspect natural cycle occurring at higher elevation. Temperatures were warm and precipitation was heavy rain or snow.
Snowpack Summary
Tuesday brought 30cm of snow with strong winds forming windslabs and storm slabs. This overlies a weak surface hoar layer or a thin sun crust on south and west aspects. Winds will continue to redistribute the storm snow at all elevations. The snowpack is 35-45cm in depth with a weak base.
Weather Summary
Tuesday night will be flurries, 8 cm of snow, -4 °C, light gusting moderate winds, and 1500m freezing level. Wednesday will be cloudy, flurries, 5 cm of snow, -3 °C, 1800m freezing level, and light west winds.
The Mountain Weather Forecast is available from Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Don't let the desire for deep powder pull you into high consequence terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind and new snow are increasing windslab reactivity particularly in Lee features. They have the potential to initiate the deep persistent layer and create a larger avalanche.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
The snow pack is already very weak at the bottom and the new snow is adding to its stress. The problem may be reaching threshold values to "wake up" and become more active as it will take a few days to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Storm Slabs
Give the storm snow a couple of days to settle.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2