Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bow Valley, Highwood Pass, Kananaskis, North 40, Spray - KLakes.
Good skiing can be found in sheltered areas at all elevations. Be mindful of increasing temperatures on solar aspects.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were observed today in the Burstall Pass area.
Snowpack Summary
Recent winds have created some wind slabs in the alpine, especially on lee sides of mountain passes and cross loaded gullies. The snowpack varies a lot. Thicker areas at tree line and above with close to 100cm of snow have a much denser and stronger snowpack while most areas below tree line have 40-50cm and consist mostly of facets(sugar snow).
The weak basal facets are still a concern and have a potential to be triggered from thin snowpack areas which are still plentiful at this time.
Forecasters were in the Burstall Pass area on Monday. This area is an anomaly because there is more snow than anywhere else in the Spray. This in turn has created a more dense and stronger snowpack.
Weather Summary
Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with moderate to strong West winds. Alpine temperatures will reach -5c.
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More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present in the snowpack.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
5-10cm thick wind slabs.
Aspects: North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Deep Persistent Slabs
If triggered, surface wind slabs may step down and involve this layer. Avalanche sizes could be surprisingly large if this happens.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5