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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 27th, 2022–Mar 28th, 2022

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Rockies.

With no or minimal overnight freezing, warm temperatures, sunshine and light rain will continue to destabilize the snowpack on all aspects and all elevations. Thoughtful terrain choices and conservative decision-making are essential for safe travel in the backcountry. 

Confidence

Moderate - We have a good understanding of the snowpack structure and confidence in the weather forecast Uncertainty is due to the fact that cornice falls are particularly difficult to forecast.

Weather Forecast

An upper ridge builds in from the west and moves across the province on Monday. This will be associated with drying and clearing conditions before the next storm system moving in for Wednesday. 

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with clear periods. No precipitation. 15-25 km/h westerly winds. Low alpine temperature +5 C with freezing level around 2600 m.

MONDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated showers. 1-3 mm. 20-30 km/h westerly winds. High alpine temperature +4 C with freezing level around 2400 m.

TUESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 2-4 cm. 10-20 km/h easterly winds. High alpine temperature -2 C with freezing level around 2000 m.

WEDNESDAY: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. 1-2 cm. 20-30 km/h southwesterly winds. High alpine temperature -2 C with freezing level around 2000 m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity have been reported on Saturday.

Remember that a lack of reported avalanches does not necessarily mean that there is a lack of avalanche activity. If you are out in the backcountry, and have photos, conditions updates, or even just good vibes to share, consider making a post on the Mountain Information Network. 

Snowpack Summary

Possible cold, dry snow and thin isolated windslabs on shady slopes in the alpine. Refrozen crust on all aspects into the low alpine, softening in the afternoon at all elevations, and on steep, sunny slopes. Recent warm temperatures, sun, and rain have made the top 10-40 cm of the snowpack moist. 

Below 1700 m, the snowpack has been reported as being moist top to bottom, and becoming isothermal.

Terrain and Travel

  • Avoid steep slopes when air temperatures are warm, it is raining, or solar radiation is strong.
  • Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.

Problems

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.