Watch for pockets of wind slab on various aspects as you transition into exposed terrain around ridgelines.
These slabs may have formed on top of old crusts and hard wind-pressed snow and there is uncertainty about how quickly they will bond to old surfaces.
Watch for pockets of wind slab on various aspects in exposed terrain and around ridgelines. Recent northeast winds have reverse loaded features building slabs in less common places.
These slabs have formed on top of old crusts and hard wind-pressed snow and there is uncertainty about how quickly they will bond to old surfaces.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Light flurries possible, light west to northwest winds. Alpine lows of -20.
THURSDAY: Mix of sun and cloud with light northwest winds. Alpine highs of -10.
FRIDAY: Sunny with a few clouds, light southwest winds and alpine highs of -9.
SATURDAY: Sunny, moderate southwest wind, alpine highs of -7.
With clearing on Tuesday there was evidence of a natural avalanche cycle earlier in the week up to size 3 from deeper snowpack areas in the Purcells. On Tuesday there were also some small natural and skier-controlled wind slabs as well as a small remotely triggered wind slab reported.
On Sunday in the Purcells there were a few natural storm slabs observed up to size 2. Also on Sunday around Quartz Creek there were shooting cracks and several small avalanches triggered by snowmobiles in steep unsupported northeast creek features. In the south of the region there a small wind slab reported from the backcountry around Panorama.
Recent northeast winds have likely reverse loaded features forming wind slabs in unusual locations near ridgelines. In sheltered areas, 20-40 cm of recent snowfall sits over a mid-February drought layer consisting of melt-freeze crusts on solar aspects, and wind-pressed snow in other exposed terrain. A small layer of surface hoar may exist above the melt-freeze crust in sheltered areas in some locations.
Another layer of buried surface hoar sits 30-60 cm deep in the upper snowpack, most likely to be found and triggered on north aspects in sheltered areas. Though there haven't been reports of recent avalanches on this layer in this region, it is still on the radar of many operations and could potentially be triggered by large loads such as a cornice fall or a step-down avalanche.
The lower snowpack is well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer found 100 to 150 cm deep. It is currently considered dormant but could become active later this season. Check out the forecaster blog for more information.
