Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Recent weather patterns have resulted in a high degree of snowpack variability within the region. Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.

Dry conditions and diurnal cycles for the next few days

Monday night: Mostly clear, light south winds, freezing level dropping to valley bottom.

Tuesday: Mix of sun and cloud, light southwest winds, freezing level rising to 1300 m and dropping to valley bottom overnight.

Wednesday: Partly cloudy, scattered flurries with trace accumulations, light variable winds, freezing level rising to 1000 m and dropping to valley bottom.

Thursday: Sunny, light variable wind, freezing level rising to 1200 m and dropping to valley bottom.

In the north of the region, there have been several reports of small to large (up to size 2.5) storm slab avalanches releasing naturally on a variety of aspects and elevations during the weekend storm. One of these was thought to have been triggered by a cornice fall. Check out these MIN reports (here and here) from slopes near Chief Pascall. Small loose dry sluffs were also observed in steep terrain. 

In the south of the region, there have been numerous reports of large (size 2-3) natural glide slab avalanches over the past week. Glide slabs are most likely in areas of smooth ground cover such as rock slabs and can be large, involving the full depth of the snowpack. Carefully consider your access/egress routes where they cross under large paths. 

In the north of the region, 30-50 cm of new snow over the weekend has been redistributed by strong south winds into wind slabs on leeward slopes that may remain possible to human trigger. Massive cornices exist on ridgelines, which can also act as triggers on slopes below. Deeper in the snowpack, a weak layer of facets buried in mid-February may still be found on north aspects near treeline but has been gaining strength. The lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.

The south of the region received trace accumulations of snow over the weekend with moderate wind. The danger ratings are Moderate, Low, Low, with a concern for small wind slabs. The snowpack is generally well consolidated with no concerns of buried weak layers but recent notable glide avalanche activity.

• Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
• Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
• Watch for signs of instability like whumpfing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks or recent avalanches.
• Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.