Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy, light northeast wind, treeline low around -15 °C.

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud, light variable wind, treeline high around -6 °C.

Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud, light east wind, treeline high around -3 °C.

Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud, light west wind, treeline high around -2 °C.

On Wednesday, a few natural wind slabs up to size 2 were reported from steep terrain in the west central part of the region. A natural icefall was also reported which triggered a thin wind slab on the slope below. 

Observations are limited this time of year. If you are getting out in the backcountry, please consider contributing to the Mountain Information Network.

10-30 cm of snow sits over a widespread melt-freeze crust which formed during the major warming event on April 8. Periods of strong wind on Monday and Tuesday have redistributed this snow in exposed terrain forming wind slabs which are now expected to have stabilized in most areas. Cornices have grown large recently but are expected to be relatively stable with the current cold temperatures. A new sun crust may now be forming on steep sun-exposed slopes.

A thick rain crust with facets above from early December is buried around 100-200 cm deep. Large avalanches were naturally triggered on this layer during the last significant warming event in the western part of the region near the Bugaboos. With the current cold temperatures, avalanche activity on this layer is unlikely. However, we expect it will wake up again with the next major input of warming and sun, or rainfall.

• Cornices often break further back than expected; give them a wide berth when traveling on ridgetops.
• When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.