Dogtooth

Cornice failures may trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.

Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.

Moderate

• We are uncertain about how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.

No new avalanches were reported on Thursday.

Observations from this region are currently very limited. Please consider submitting a MIN to let us know what you're seeing out there.

Poor overnight crust recovery caused by cloudy skies and very high freezing levels are increasing the likelihood of cornice failures and wet avalanches.

Moist snow surfaces exist up to mountain tops.

A thick crust from mid-March is 20 to 60 cm deep, which extends up to about 2400 m. Near Invermere, weak sugary facets may be found above this crust.

In shallow snowpack areas, depth hoar (large facets) can be found near the bottom of the snowpack.

Snowpack depth tapers rapidly at lower elevations.

Friday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2900 m.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 2 °C. Freezing level 2800 m.

Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

Monday
Mix of sun and clouds. 0 to 5 cm of snow above 1700 m (rain below). 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2400 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
• Avoid travelling on slopes below cornices.
• Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
• Avoid steep, sun-exposed slopes when the air temperature is warm or when solar radiation is strong.
• A moist or wet snow surface, pinwheeling, and natural avalanches are all indicators of a weakening snowpack.