A cooling trend is reducing avalanche danger. However, it remains possible for humans to trigger a buried weak layer that could produce large slab avalanches.
Weak, sugary facets over a hard melt-freeze crust may be found 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer remains reactive in some snowpack tests and has produced recent large avalanches.
Many small loose wet avalanches released over the past few days.
On Sunday, a very large persistent slab avalanche released naturally near Crowsnest Pass. On Friday, a rider triggered a persistent slab avalanche. See the photos for more information.
A 24 hour period of cold temperatures should reduce the likelihood of triggering avalanches. Remain cautious around thin, rocky features, where triggering a persistent slab remains possible.
Spotty convective flurries yesterday mean fresh snow in some places. Overnight, we expect that wet surface snow below 2100 m and on slopes facing the sun will freeze into a hard melt-freeze crust.
Weak sugary snow above a crust from late March is buried about 50 to 70 cm deep.
Below this, the snowpack is generally well consolidated. However, facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas near Elkford.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear skies. 40 km/h northwest ridgetop wind decreasing to 20 km/h by the morning. Treeline low -8 °C. Freezing level falling to valley bottom.
Wednesday
Sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline high 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2200 m.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
Friday
Sunny. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
