Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
A bit more wind has been experienced in the last 24hrs and forecasted moderate to strong winds Thursday will disturb more surface snow. Expect further wind slab development at upper elevations.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported.
Snowpack Summary
A few cm's of snow fell in the last 24hrs. Recent winds have created wind slabs at upper elevations. In protected areas as much as 20cm of low density snow overlies the Feb 3 crust. This crust layer is prominent on all aspects below 2400m and on solar aspects to at least 2600m. Recently formed surface sun crusts are also now found on solar aspects. The mid pack consists of a wide variety of crust and facet combinations, and the basal weak layers remain just that...weak.
Weather Summary
Thursday will be cloudy with very light flurries. Snow accumulations will be minimal (maybe 2cm). Temps should reach -4C with moderate to strong westerly winds.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
- Back off if you encounter whumpfing, hollow sounds, or shooting cracks.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
This problem is limited to immediate lee features, gullies that have been cross loaded, and areas immediately below large cliffs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Be cautious for this layer in high alpine terrain. Thinner snowpack areas will be the places that this may be an issue.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5