Avalanche Forecast

The North end of the region (Elk Valley/ Crowsnest North) may see slightly higher snowfall amounts than in the South.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with light snow 5-20 cm. Alpine temperatures near -1.0 and ridgetop wind 20-50 km/hr. from the southwest. Freezing levels near 1700 m.

Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. Alpine temperatures near -10 and freezing levels at the valley bottom. Ridgetop winds will be light from the southwest.

Friday: Mainly cloudy with light flurries. Alpine temperatures near -11 with the freezing level in the valley bottom. Ridgetop winds moderate to strong from the southwest.

With the new snow and wind forecast overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday we may see some fresh avalanche activity either in the form of loose dry or storm and wind slabs. 

Have you been out? If so, we would love to hear about it on the Mountain Information Network. A picture is worth a thousand words! Thanks for your submissions. 

Up to 20 cm of forecast new snow will likely bury the recent surface hoar (feather-like frost crystals) that exists on most aspects and elevations in wind-sheltered areas. The strong southwest winds likely destroyed some of the surface hoar on wind-exposed slopes, but in wind-sheltered areas the surface hoar may be alive and well. The new snow will likely show a poor bond to the old plethora of snow surfaces like surface hoar and crusts on solar aspects from last week’s sun and warm temperatures.

Isolated pockets of stiff and reactive wind slab may exist on leeward slopes during and after this wind event. These wind slabs may sit above a widespread rain crust from early November, which can be found up to 2500m and buried down 30-100cm. Weak snow may be developing around this crust.

However, given the stagnant weather pattern and a decreasing trend in instability, this problematic snowpack structure is not currently listed as a problem. We may expect to see it transition to our problems page once it becomes buried with new snow. It will be a layer to monitor as the season progresses.

The snowpack is generally thin, wind hammered, variable in wind-scoured areas and tapers rapidly at lower elevations. Snowpack depths at sheltered upper treeline elevations are nearing 100 cm and beginning to exceed the threshold for avalanches. 

• Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
• Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
• Recent new snow may be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.