A recent avalanche in the Tumbler area gives a precise idea of the type of terrain and snowpack to treat with extra caution under the current conditions.
Small new slabs may form with forecast weather. Otherwise, existing deeper deposits of wind-loaded snow in shallow, rocky areas should be treated with caution. An avalanche in an area fitting this profile was triggered on Sunday.
A size 2 slab avalanche was reported from the Tom's Lake area on Sunday. Check out the MIN report here. The avalanche appears to have been a wind slab that failed on weak, faceted snow in the mid or lower snowpack. It occurred on a southwest aspect (notable!) and is a good reminder that even old wind loaded pockets in otherwise thin, rocky snowpack areas should be treated with caution.
Keep posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network!
Light new snow spilling over from a storm in the west Rockies will do little to bury heavily wind-affected surfaces in exposed areas. Limited soft snow may be found on the surface in more sheltered areas above 1500 m. Below this elevation and on solar aspects, warm temperatures and sunshine should have recently formed a surface crust.
The snowpack in this region is otherwise shallow with the middle and base mostly made up of weak, sugary facet crystals along with a crust at the base of the snowpack.
Wednesday night
Cloudy with isolated wet flurries. 50 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline Freezing level peaking at 2000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with scattered flurries and less than 5 cm of new snow. 30 - 60 km/h west ridgetop wind, easing. Treeline temperature falling from 0 °C to -5 °C over the day as freezing level returns to valley bottom.
Friday
Mainly cloudy with lingering flurries and less than 5 cm of new snow, including overnight amounts. 10 - 30 km/h north ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature falling to -15 °C.
Saturday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
