Wind slabs may remain triggerable on lee slopes near ridgetops.
Continue to avoid steep wind-loaded areas.
10 to 30 cm of recent snow combined with southwesterly winds likely built wind slabs on lee slopes. They may be more reactive where they also overlie a new layer of surface hoar. Continue to avoid steep wind-loaded areas.
Friday
A size 2 loose dry sluff was observed in Kakwa.
Thursday,
Southwest of Valemount, a small size 1 slab was remotely triggered at a distance of 80 m. The failure plane was unknown.
Wednesday
A skier accidentally triggered a small wind slab on a northeast-facing wind-loaded slope.
Naturally triggered dry loose sluffing and several wind slabs up to size 2 were also observed in the region.
10 to 30 cm of recent snow may be covering a new weak layer of surface hoar or sun crust. Recent southwesterly wind may have blown that snow onto lee slopes creating fresh wind slabs.
Below that, 20 to 60 cm of older snow is covering a melt-freeze crust that exists up to around 1900 m and on sunny aspects.
A layer of surface hoar/facets/crust from late January may be buried 60 to 80 cm. This layer seems to have gone dormant, but lingering concern remains for northerly sheltered features at treeline.
The remaining snowpack is well settled with no layers of concern.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds. 1 to 4 cm of snow. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
