Avalanche Forecast

A ridge of high pressure over the province continues to bring sunny, dry weather. Freezing levels are forecast to stay elevated into the weekend.

Wednesday night: Clear, moderate east wind, alpine low -6 C, freezing level 2400 m.

Thursday: Sunny, moderate east wind, alpine high +8 C, freezing level 2600 m.

Friday: Sunny, light northeast wind, alpine high +10 C, freezing level 3000 m. 

Saturday: Sunny, light westerly wind, alpine high +12 C, freezing level 3000 m.

A few small wet loose avalanches in steep rocky terrain were reported on Tuesday as well as a small slab avalanche triggered by a skier on a northeast facing alpine slope. Wind slabs were reactive over the weekend, several natural and ski cut size 1-1.5 and a few size 2 were observed on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, most activity in the recent snow was limited to loose dry sluffing.

A couple of recent natural cornice failures size 2.5 did not trigger slabs on slopes below except for one which triggered small slab avalanches.

Neighboring Glacier National Park reported a few very large (size 3-4) glide slab releases on Thursday. Glide slabs are hard to predict and can release at any time, so it is important to avoid slopes with glide cracks.

The snow surface consists of a melt-freeze crust on solar aspects and shaded aspects below 1700 m which transitions into moist/wet snow during the day. Dry snow can still be found on northerly aspects at treeline and in the alpine. 20-40 cm of recent snow has formed isolated pockets of wind slab on leeward slopes and behind terrain features. The recent snow sits on a series of melt-freeze crusts on all aspects below 1900 m and southerly aspects to mountain top. Reports indicate the snow is bonding well at these interfaces. On North aspects in the alpine, the recent snow sits on dry wintery snow surfaces and possibly surface hoar on wind-sheltered slopes. 

Cornices are large, fragile and failing with warm temperatures. Several natural cornice falls were observed recently. 

The recent warm weather is expected to have helped old persistent weak layers heal, including a few crusts buried over the last month as well as a facet layer 150 cm deep from the mid-February cold snap. However, with each day of warm weather the likelihood of persistent slab avalanches increases slightly. 

• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
• Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.
• Avoid sun exposed slopes, especially if snow surface is moist or wet.
• Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.