Weak sugary facetted snow in the bottom third of the snowpack continues to be a concern for triggering large avalanches
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Sunday
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Alpine temperature -12 °C / Light east windMONDAY: Isolated flurries, accumulation up to 5cm / Light to moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -12TUESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to Moderate west wind / Alpine temperature -13More details can be found on the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Avalanche Summary
Some loose dry avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on Friday in the Elk Valley North, near Crown Mountain. The deep persistent slab problem is a low probability/high consequence scenario that warrants extra caution around large open slopes, especially in shallow snowpack areas. There was a report on Tuesday of a size 3.5 avalanche at Mt Hosmer in the Lizard/Flathead region that released on or stepped down to the deep weak layer near the ground. On Wednesday we had a report from the Lizard range of another size 3.0 deep persistent avalanche on a northeast aspect in the alpine. Avalanche activity on Wednesday near Elkford was limited to loose snow up to size 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
In Elk Valley North late last week, up to 20cm of light dry storm snow fell. The mid-pack in this location is well settled, but the bottom third of the snowpack is weak facets. Snow profile tests produced moderate compression tests that released suddenly down 75 cm on the facetted crystals. In the Crowsnest North late last week up to 35 cm of recent storm snow lies above various old surfaces. Near Elkford up to 20 cm of storm snow sits above a melt/freeze crust. Approximately 100-120 cm of settled snow sits above the weak layer of sugary facets that developed during the cold spell in December. Snow profile tests indicate hard shears in this location where the facets are sitting on a hard wind crust.
mbender,
Avalanche Canada
