As soon as the sun comes out the surface snow will become moist and increase the likelihood of loose wet avalanches. Wind slabs in alpine lee features may still be reactive to human triggering.
Summary
Confidence
High -
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clear with cloudy periods and isolated flurries / light northeast wind / freezing level 800 mFRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light to moderate westerly wind / alpine high temperature -4 C / freezing level 1800 mSATURDAY: Cloudy / 10-20 cm snow accumulation / moderate to strong southwest wind / alpine high temperature -5 C / freezing level 1700 mSUNDAY: Cloudy / up to 10 cm snow accumulation / light to moderate southwest wind / alpine high temperature -7 C / freezing level 1500 m
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, no natural avalanche activity was reported. A human triggered wind slab avalanche of size 1.5 on a north aspect at treeline was observed in the south of the region.On Tuesday, several natural and human triggered storm/wind slab avalanches 10-50 cm deep and up to size 2.5 were observed on north and east aspects in the alpine. A size 1.5 explosive triggered cornice did not trigger an avalanche on the northeast facing slope below. Several natural loose wet and wet slab avalanches up to size 2 were reported from southeast, south, west and northwest facing slopes (see a
MIN report from Glacier National Park).
Snowpack Summary
Last week’s unsettled weather produced 20-50 cm of snow that sits on a melt-freeze crust on all aspects except for north facing slopes above 2000 m, where it sits on dry snow and surface hoar (feathery crystals). On northern aspects the new snow is slowly bonding and humans might still trigger wind slab avalanches. Recent snowfall amounts taper quickly below treeline. Snow is disappearing rapidly at lower elevations.
ldreier,
Avalanche Canada
