Human triggering and some natural avalanche activity continues to occur on the various weak layers buried in our snowpack. We expect this to increase Sunday night and Monday. Minimize exposure and avoid large avalanche terrain until things improve!
Summary
Weather Forecast
Temps on Sunday will be in the -5 to-10'C range at treeline with some warming late in the day and 5-15 cm of snow, mostly later in the day, with the larger amounts to the West. Sunday night should see a rise in temperatures and increased snowfall into Monday which will likely cause a natural avalanche cycle if the current forecast comes true.
Snowpack Summary
Recent alpine winds have created wind slabs in leeward areas up to 1m thick. 25-55 cm of settled snow from recent storms has formed a soft slab over the three persistent weak layers of surface hoar and facets that lurk in the upper half of the snowpack often giving sudden test results. Jan 16 down 25-45cm; Jan 6 down 35-55cm; and Dec15 down 45-80cm
Avalanche Summary
More evidence of a widespread cycle on persistent weak layers up to size 3 in the last 48hrs was observed. One natural size 2 failed mid-day on the Dec 15 layer in Lipalian 3 near Lake Louise. Close calls continue with a skier triggered size 3 at treeline in Kootenay resulting in a deep burial that turned out OK due to a fast response by the group.
Confidence
Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain on Monday
conrad janzen,
Parks Canada
