Avalanche Forecast

Small wind slabs (size 1) were reactive to rider traffic on steep unsupported alpine features in the McGillivray area on Wednesday.

Data in this region is limited. If you head out into the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).

10 to 20 cm of snow has fallen since Thursday, adding to 20 to 40 cm of heavily wind-affected snow from the past week. This recent snow sits on crusts and, in some sheltered areas, surface hoar. This layer has bonded poorly in neighbouring regions to the west and south, and in parts of this region could result in large wind slab avalanches.

Overall, the snow depth remains shallow, with average treeline snowpack depths between 70 and 100 cm.

Thursday Night

Cloudy with trace accumulation, alpine wind south 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature around -3 °C, freezing level around 1400 m.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud with no precipitation, alpine wind south 30 to 40 km/h, treeline temperature around +2 °C with freezing level climbing to 2400 m by evening.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow in the afternoon, alpine wind south 30 to 50 km/h, treeline temperature around 0 °C with freezing level dropping to 1800 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with sunny periods, no precipitation, alpine wind southwest 20 km/h, treeline temperature around -3 °C, freezing level around 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
• Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.