Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday

TUESDAY: Isolated flurries, accumulations 5-10cm Monday night into Tuesday / Moderate to strong west wind / Alpine temperature -4 / Freezing level 1000mWEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -11 THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud  / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature -8  

On Sunday there was a size 2 deep persistent slab avalanche triggered by a snowcat on a southeast aspect at 1900m. This avalanche was 180cm deep and ran on facets sitting on a rain crust buried at the end of November. The snowpack in the region remains suspect with several buried weak layers displaying classic signs of instability such as whumpfing and cracking. The recent video posted to the Avalanche Canada South Rockies field team Facebook page paints a pretty clear picture. https://www.facebook.com/avcansouthrockies/videos/1894352117306941/.

A crust has more than likely formed on the surface of the snow with the warm temperatures and/or rain experienced on Monday. About 20-50 cm of recent snow now covers both a new layer of feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas as well as sun crust on solar aspects buried mid-January, and about 30-60 cm below the surfaces lies the early-January surface hoar layer. About 60-80 cm below the surface a weak layer of feathery surface hoar crystals and/or sun crust buried mid-December is found at treeline and below treeline elevations. Near the base of the snowpack the weak early-season layer of rain crust and sugary facets buried late-November exists. Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread. Snowpack depths are also variable across the region and typically thinner in northern areas than in areas to the south.