There is a lot of uncertainty with the reactivity of deeply buried weak layers. Conditions like this are best managed by sticking to lower-angle terrain away from any overhead hazard.
Read more in our latest forecaster blog.
Localized areas may accumulate upwards of 20 cm in 24 hrs by 4 pm Friday. Expect new snow to be most reactive where impacted by wind. Fresh slabs may trigger other instabilities deeper in the snowpack.
A layer of large and weak facets sits near the base of the snowpack. This layer has most recently been problematic in upper treeline/lower alpine elevations. Riders are most likely to trigger an avalanche on this layer in steep, shallow previously undisturbed terrain, or by first triggering a layer further up in the snowpack.
No new avalanches were reported in the past few days in the region, however observations are limited.
Looking forward, wind slabs will continue to form but concern for step-down and large natural and human-triggered deep persistent slab avalanches is at the forefront of our minds. Check out this video on incremental loading to learn more.
If you are out in the backcountry please consider filling out a Mountain Information Network report.
Strong west and northwest winds will continue to affect wind-exposed terrain and build fresh wind slabs in lee areas. On steep solar aspects, and sun crust may exist on the snow surface and at lower elevations, a rain crust exists.
Snowpack depths are shallower than normal, and several buried weak layers have been a concern over the past few weeks. Surface hoar or crust layers in the mid-snowpack may exist in this region.
The most concerning layer in this area is at the base of the snowpack. Large, weak facets buried in November are widespread. This layer is most likely to be problematic in steep, rocky alpine terrain, where shallower wind slab avalanches can scrub down to these basal facets.
Upslope conditions Thursday night into Friday may produce larger snowfall accumulations on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Isolated hot spots (Kakwa and south towards Renshaw and Jasper) could accumulate upwards of 20 cm by 4 pm Friday.
Thursday night
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 5-10 cm. Ridge wind northwest 20-40 km/hr. Alpine low temperature -8 C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.
Friday
Scattered flurries continue through the day, 5-10 cm. Ridge wind north 10-20 km/hr. Alpine temperature -8 C. Freezing level valley bottom.
SaturdayClearing with sunny breaks. Ridge wind northeast 15-25 km/hr. Alpine temperature -15 C.
SundayMainly sunny. Ridge wind northeast 5-15 km/hr. Alpine temperature -20 C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
