South Rockies

Reduce your exposure to avalanche terrain and overhead hazard.

Fresh wind slabs are expected to form, and buried weak layers are a concern with recent large avalanches triggered naturally.

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind-affected terrain.
• Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
• If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Moderate

• Uncertainty is due to the extreme variability of wind effect on the snowpack.
• Uncertainty is due to the fact that persistent slabs are particularly difficult to forecast.

Large, naturally triggered persistent slab avalanches have been observed recently on north facing slopes. These failed on buried weak layers 1-2 m deep, and some have stepped down to ground. See photos below.

Observations are limited in this region - If you are travelling in the mountains, please submit any observations or photos to the Mountain Information Network.

Light accumulationsof new snow are expected by Tuesday morning. This falls over 50-80 cm of wind affected settling snow, with a thick crust below.

A prominent crust is buried 100–150 cm deep in terrain above 1800 m. At lower elevations, the mid and lower snowpack is moist to the ground.

Monday Night
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow. 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 1 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy. 5 to 20 cm of snow. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy. 3 to 5 cm of snow. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.