Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Tumbler.
Continued southwest wind has built wind slabs on north and east aspects.
Lower elevations have a shallow snowpack
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Last Thursday in the Bullmoose area; small windslabs of varying ages (some fresh and some old and hard) were reported. See photos here.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Another 10-15 cm of snow fell over the weekend making 20-30 cm of recent soft snow on the surface. In places it is heavily wind affected and sits above a variety of old snow surfaces including wind-scoured snow and faceted snow. At treeline and below, the recent snow sits on a widespread crust and pockets of surface hoar.
The snowpack is shallow and faceted with multiple crusts. Pockets of deeper snow may be found near ridges, gully features, and established avalanche paths. Average snowpack depths at treeline are between 60 and 100 cm.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Mix of sun and cloud, southwest alpine wind 40-50 km/h, treeline temperature 0 °C, with an above freezing layer from 1000-1400 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud, southwest alpine wind 30-60 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, with an above freezing layer from 900-1500 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud with flurries, west alpine wind 50-60 km/h, treeline temperature 1 °C, with a freezing level up to 1400m.
Friday
Mostly sunny, southwest alpine wind 40 km/h, treeline temperature 2 °C, with a freezing level up to1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avalanche danger is often elevated in alpine gullies where snow has accumulated.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
20- 30 cm of soft snow on the surface has been altered by southwest winds in the alpine, treeline and in open slopes below treeline. The alpine has a more complex pattern of wind effect, and wind slabs may be found on all aspects.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2