Avalanche Forecast
Although persistent slab avalanche activity has tapered, remain cautious as there is still potential to trigger buried weak layers.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Reports from the last few days focus on several storm slab and wind slab avalanches size 1.5 to 2.5 in the alpine and treeline elevation bands. These were natural and skier triggered. Two were remotely triggered (from a distance) and were suspected of running on a recently buried layer of surface hoar 30 to 40 cm deep.
On Sunday there was a report of a natural size 3.5 persistent slab avalanche in the far west of the region in the Howson range.
Snowpack Summary
20-30 cm of recent new snow is being redistributed by primarily southerly winds. This new snow fell on a widespread layer of large surface hoar crystals, which may sit on a crust on solar aspects and at low elevations.
A layer of facets, surface hoar and/or a crust from mid-February are buried 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer produced large natural and human-triggered avalanches through the previous week.
The remainder of the snowpack is well consolidated with no concerns at this time.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy. 15 to 30 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, accumulation 1 to 2 cm. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Thursday
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries. 15 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Mostly cloudy with possible flurries. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
- Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried surface hoar.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent new snow has been redistributed into alpine and treeline lee terrain. Wind slabs may be more reactive where sitting on a recently buried layer of surface hoar
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
Buried persistent weak layers have produced large natural and human triggered avalanches recently.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 3