If you are out in the mountains, please consider submitting your observations to our MIN (Mountain Information Network).
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure is building over most of the province. Colder modified arctic air is expected to descend from the north. Alpine lows should be around -15 and highs around -10 combined with light northerly winds. Expect broken skies with periods of light flurries on Friday. Very little precipitation should be left by Saturday and Sunday.
Avalanche Summary
Natural cornice avalanches and natural and skier controlled wind slab avalanches up to size 1.0 have been reported. Most of these have been on northerly aspects in the lee of local winds. Winds have been generally easterly, but some areas have had locally more southerly winds due to terrain.
Snowpack Summary
10-25 cm of new snow is now sitting on the mix of surface hoar, near surface facets, and sun crust that was left behind after the recent clear and warm weather. Easterly winds have transported the new snow and some of the loose snow available into wind slabs at higher elevations. The new snow is reported to be loose and unconsolidated except where the wind slabs exist. The mid and lower snowpack is generally well settled and strong.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Cornices
Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.