Avalanche Forecast

On Saturday, many riders got surprised by small (size 1) reactive wind slabs failing on the underlying rain crust. These slabs occurred in wind-loaded terrain in the alpine and treeline.

Looking forward to Monday, wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggering for longer than is typical due to the slick crust they are sitting on. Avoid wind-loaded terrain and watch for signs of instability as you travel.

Please continue to post your observations and photos to the Mountain Information Network.

This week, 15-40 cm of storm snow was accompanied by strong southwest winds, creating hard wind-affected surfaces in open areas, and wind slabs in lee terrain features. This new snow overlies a rain crust formed earlier in the week.

The mid-snowpack is well-settled. The lower snowpack consists of several crusts with weak faceted crystals above and below that are beginning to heal and bond to each other.

Snowpack depths are roughly 140 to 180 cm at treeline.

Sunday night

Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -5 °C. Light ridge wind. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -2 °C. Ridge wind light to 15 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1800 metres.

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h from the southwest. Freezing levels rise to 400 metres.

A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind light to 25 km/h from the south. Freezing level rises to 700 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
• Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
• Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.