A storm system is expected to arrive Thursday and build through Thursday night and Friday. This will result in increasing avalanche hazard. Conservative terrain choices are required.
Moderate to strong winds have built wind slabs at alpine and treeline elevations. This problem will increase with forecasted snow and wind on Thursday and Friday.
Sunshine and Lake Louise ski areas reported explosive and skier controlled wind slabs in alpine lees up to size 1.
Forecasted wind and new snow on Thursday and Friday will create fresh wind slabs and storm slabs at all elevations. In some areas, the Jan 24 surface hoar or crust is 25 to 35 cm down at treeline and below. This layer may become reactive with the additional load of the incoming storm. Starting Thursday afternoon, the snowpack's stability will deteriorate rapidly as the storm arrives.
A significant storm is expected to hit the forecast region starting on Thursday and cresting Thursday night and Friday. Forecast amounts vary, but amounts could be in the range of 25-35 in the north regions and 15-20 in the southern regions. The one factor that is consistent is the wind. Forecasted winds for all regions is strong from the west. With the forecasted wind and snow we expect to see an avalanche cycle.
