Forecast heavy snow and wind Saturday night and into Sunday will build touchy storm slabs. Large, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow or wind.
Forecast heavy snow and wind on Sunday will build touchy storm slabs. Large, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations.
Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow or wind.
A layer of large and weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer is most prominent in upper treeline and alpine elevations. Riders are most likely to trigger an avalanche on this layer in steep, shallow terrain. Your best defence is to stay diligent in choosing low-consequence terrain away from overhead exposure.
Forecast heavy snow and wind on Sunday will build reactive storm slabs. Large, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations.
Naturally triggered storm slabs were reported at treeline and above near Blue River on Friday.
5-15 cm of new snow on Friday night brings recent snowfall totals to 40-50 cm. The recent snow is settling into storm slabs that will be most reactive where either wind has stiffened the snow or they overlie a layer of recently buried surface hoar.
Forecast heavy snow and wind on Sunday will build reactive storm slabs. Large, natural avalanches are expected at all elevations.
The mid-pack is showing signs of strengthening. A surface hoar layer down roughly 60 to 80 cm has not produced avalanches recently but can still be found in isolated terrain features specifically sheltered, treeline, and upper below treeline.
The lower snowpack is composed of large and weak facets from November located near the base of the snowpack. Additional load or step-down avalanches over the next few days may wake this layer up.
Saturday night
Snow; 10-20 cm / Moderate west ridgetop wind / Low -8 °C / Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Snow; 20-30 cm; another 5-10 cm Sunday night / Strong west ridgetop wind / High 0 °C / Freezing level 1400 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud / Light northwest ridgetop wind / High of -5 °C / Freezing level valley bottom.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud / Light east ridgetop wind / High of -13 °C / Freezing level valley bottom.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
