Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Dry with gradually warming alpine temperatures during the week. Cold in the valley bottoms. TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light west. Alpine temperature -8. Freezing level surface.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with sunny breaks. Ridge wind light southwest. Alpine temperature -5. Freezing level surface.THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Ridge wind light southwest. Alpine temperature -3. Freezing level surface.

On Monday, a machine triggered Size 1.5 persistent slab avalanche was reported running on the mid December surface hoar layer, down 35 cm at that location (1700m). On Sunday we had reports of small features being reactive to sled cutting. See here for the MIN report - great information from a low-consequence slope. On Sunday, an explosives-triggered Size 2.5 persistent slab avalanche was reported on a south east aspect at 1700m near Fernie, running on the mid-December surface hoar layer (down 65cm in that location).

At the end of last week, 20-35 cm of storm snow fell on top of 25 cm of previous very low density storm snow. Winds (at times strong from the south west) have modified the snow pack, creating an "upside-down" storm slab layer with stiffer snow on top of softer snow.This upside-down storm snow layer overlies roughly 50 cm of old storm snow from last week that formed into stiff wind slabs in exposed terrain near ridge top, but remains low density in sheltered areas. The mid-December layer is now buried 40-60 cm below the surface. The layer includes crusts on south and west facing slopes and feathery surface hoar in sheltered areas at and below treeline, and has been producing moderate, sudden results in recent snowpack tests.The lower snowpack is generally well settled with a thick prominent crust that was buried near the end of November.