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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 1st, 2023–Mar 2nd, 2023

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

Regions

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Carefully assess exposed slopes for wind slab. strong winds mean that wind slabs could be found further down slope than expected.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Earlier this week natural wind slabs were been reported to size 2.5, out of north facing alpine features. Reports suggest winds have mostly stripped the alpine, with isolated features holding wind loading now.

Please post your field observations and photos on the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Around 15 cm of new snow has fallen in the last 3 days. At higher elevations this sits over extremely wind affected surfaces including large sastrugi. Many alpine areas may not hold new snow and instead be stripped back to hard surfaces.

A melt-freeze crust with facets above, sits 50 to 100 cm deep. This crust could be a good sliding surface for avalanche activity but has shown limited reactivity so far. We are monitoring this layer going forward as it may become a persistent problem.

The mid to lower snowpack is considered well bonded at this point. Currently we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected. Strong westerly winds and a low of -10 °C at 2000 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate to strong westerly winds and a High of -7°C at 2000 m.

Friday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected. moderate southwest winds and a high of -8°C at 2000 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -8°C at 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.