Avalanche Forecast

Avalanches that occurred this past weekend included wind slabs and storm slabs that reached up to size 2.5. They ranged from natural to skier accidental. They mostly occurred on north and northwest-facing slopes in the alpine and at treeline. The most notable of these was a skier accidental that happened at 1350 m on a 38 degree slope. The skier triggered the avalanche, 30 cm deep, by skiing over a rocky area where the snowpack was thin. There was a full burial but they were extricated with no injuries.

Since Sunday, most areas saw around 20 cm of new snow in the alpine, with up to 40 cm near Stewart. Snow totals rapidly taper off as you go down in elevation. New snow has formed reactive slabs in specific areas, such as near ridgecrest in the alpine.

In most areas, this snow has covered a melt-freeze crust, except on shady slopes above 1500 m where the snow has remained dry over the past week.

In most areas, the lower snowpack is generally strong and well-bonded. In outlying northern reaches of the region, basal facets may exist which are currently considered dormant. This layer may become active with abrupt changes to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged warming.

Monday Night

Cloudy, 5 cm accumulation, winds northerly 10 to 15 km/h, treeline temperatures around -5 °C.

Tuesday

Sunny with cloudy periods, no accumulation, winds southerly 20 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures -3 °C.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy, 5 to 10 cm of accumulation, winds south 50 km/h, treeline temperatures -5 to 0 °C.

Thursday

Cloudy, 15 to 20 cm accumulation, winds south 55 km/h, treeline temperatures reaching 0 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
• Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
• Caution around slopes that are exposed to cornices overhead.