Avalanche Forecast

Good

Friday night and Saturday: The upper trough that left some light precipitations over some parts of the region gives way to a ridge of high pressure that will bring back temperatures down to seasonal norm (-7 C in the alpine), scattered cloud cover and moderate West and South West winds. Another system arrives late during the day covering up the sky gradually. Sunday: Light precipitation is associated with the frontal system, light South winds and similar temperatures. Monday: Traces of precipitation could fall on the region and winds staying light from the West and temperatures cooling slightly (-9 C).

A couple natural slab avalanches size 1.5 and 2 were observed in the Jumbo and Bugaboos area. They were most likely triggered by sun and warmth. Multiple small loose moist avalanches were triggered also by warmth and solar radiation on steep solar aspects in the alpine.

There is a mix of snowpack surfaces going from wind slabs on various aspects under ridgetops in the alpine and in open treeline areas, widespread loose facets 15-20 cm thick, surface hoar mostly at treeline and below treeline and a solar crusts on South aspects.  The forecast moderate winds from the W and SW (and the few cm of new snow in the South part of the region) could further build the windslabs on lee features.  Sluffing is also very likely on steep slopes on all aspects and all elevations. The mid layers of the snowpack have settled and are generally reported to be strong. Weak layers that were developed in November have not been reactive to skier or snowmobile traffic and are giving non-planar results. Thin snowpack areas are the most likely place for deeper layers to be reactive to the additional load of a skier or rider.