Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
The cooler temperatures are arriving. Daytime temps will be in the -20s on Friday. A new crust has formed and will become a layer to be watched as it becomes buried later in the winter.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed.
Snowpack Summary
2-5cm of snow fell with associated strong westerly winds and cooling temperatures on Thursday as the arctic air starts to push into the region.
Surfaces that were moist on Wednesday (lower elevations and steep solar) are rapidly turning into a surface crust that will be a layer of concern in the snowpack once it becomes more deeply buried.
Otherwise, skiers and backcountry users should be on the lookout for windslabs along ridgelines and gullied features. These windslabs will be stubborn to trigger but skiers should still be thinking about the consequences if it slides initiates.
Warm temps have helped settle and strengthen the snowpack throughout the region giving us a more dense base than we have had in previous years.
Weather Summary
Wind are going to be becoming more light as the still arctic air moves in. Temperatures are forecast to be in the -20s on Friday with no new snow forecast.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
5-10cm thick wind slabs.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2