Avalanche Forecast

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Generally overcast skies and light flurries are forecast for each day of the forecast period. Extreme southwest ridgetop winds should become light to moderate by the weekend. Freezing levels may rise to 1800m on Friday, and then drop to 1200m for Saturday and Sunday.

In recent days, several natural wind slab avalanches to size 1.5 were observed in high elevation terrain in the Elk Valley North area. A size 1 persistent slab avalanche was also noted on a steep cut bank below treeline. Although observations were limited at the time of publishing this bulletin, extreme winds on Thursday likely sparked a new round of wind slab activity. In areas where buried persistent weak layers exist, wind-deposited snow will also add to the likelihood and consequences of triggering the overlying slab.

Up to 17cm of new snow fell on Tuesday night. On Thursday, strong to extreme southwest winds redistributed much of this snow into new wind slabs in higher elevation lee terrain. East of Crowsnest Pass any new snow will overlie mainly scoured surfaces or hard stubborn wind slabs from last week. In general, the mid and lower snowpack are strong and well-settled in these areas.In areas to the west of the divide you're more likely to find a mix of persistent weak crystals which may lie up to 30cm below the surface. These crystals, which formed at the beginning of January, seem most reactive in open areas below treeline and consist of surface hoar, facets and a hard crust on steep solar aspects. Additional snow load will add to the size and reactivity of this developing persistent slab. About 50cm below the surface you may also find a surface hoar layer which formed in December. Although no avalanches have been reported on this layer, it continues to produce sudden results in snowpack tests and may come to life with a large trigger or additional storm loading.