Avalanche Forecast

A size 2 slab avalanche was reported from the Tom's Lake area on Sunday. Check out the MIN report here. The avalanche appears to have been a wind slab that failed on weak, faceted snow in the mid or lower snowpack. It occurred on a southwest aspect (notable!) and is a good reminder that even old wind loaded pockets in otherwise thin, rocky snowpack areas should be treated with caution.

Keep posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network!

Surface conditions in the region are predominantly wind-affected, some of it more recent with light snow and elevated winds through Thursday morning.

Limited soft snow may be found on the surface in more sheltered areas above 1500 m. Below this elevation and on solar aspects, recent warm temperatures and sunshine should have formed a surface crust.

The snowpack in this region is otherwise shallow with the middle and base mostly made up of weak, sugary facet crystals along with a crust at the base of the snowpack. Steep terrain where wind slabs may linger over these old, weak grains are the main avalanche concern in the region.

Thursday Night

Cloudy with easing isolated flurries. 5 - 30 km/h north ridgetop wind, easing. Freezing level to valley bottom.

Friday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries and less than 5 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 10 - 30 km/h north ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature falling to -15 °C.

Saturday

Mainly sunny. 10 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high temperature around -13 °C.

Sunday

Mainly sunny. 5 to 30 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature falling to about -19 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Avoid shallow snowpack areas, rocky outcrops, and steep terrain where triggering is most likely.
• Watch for areas of hard wind slab on alpine features.