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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

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

Regions

North Rockies, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

Monitor the wind direction and keep an eye out for blowing snow building new reactive wind slabs near ridge crests.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches were reported over the past few days.

Snowpack Summary

Convective flurries will bring isolated hot spots where an additional 3 to 5 cm will bring recent new snow amounts to roughly 15 to 20 cm of new snow. Moderate winds from the northeast may redistribute this new snow and develop small, isolated wind slabs directly lee of ridges. These new wind slabs sit over a crust on solar aspects and on high north-facing terrain, wind slabs sit over facets and surface hoar.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

A weak layer of large facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer could still be a concern in very shallow snowpack areas.

 

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Clearing overnight, lingering flurries may bring a few centimeters of new snow, higher amounts in isolated areas due to convective flurries. Light to moderate northeast winds, treeline temperatures - 8° C.

Monday

Mostly clear with no new snow expected. Light northwest winds and a high of -5°C at 1500 m.

Tuesday

Clear skies with no new snow expected. Light northerly winds and a high of -4°C at 1500 m.

Wednesday

Increasing clouds and scattered flurries may bring a few centimeters of new snow, treeline temperature high -1 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
  • Minimize your exposure time below cornices.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.