Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.
Spring conditions have arrived. Watch for the sun warming steep, sunny slopes in the afternoon.Potential remains to trigger a persistent slab on upper elevation north-facing slopes.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported since last weekend, but field observations have been limited.
If you head to the backcountry please consider submitting your observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
A widespread crust is capping the surface of the snowpack in most areas, and is expected to decrease the likelihood of triggering avalanches. This crust may soften and melt during the day as it warms. Shady, upper-elevation slopes may have 5 to 10 cm of soft snow over this crust in some parts of the region.
Another crust, formed in early February, is buried about 50 to 110 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of facets above it in many areas. Triggering this layer is unlikely in most areas, but remains possible mainly on high-elevation north-facing slopes.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mostly clear. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperatures drop to -10 °C.
Saturday
Sunny. 15 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1300 m.
Sunday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.
Monday
Sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature high of 2 °C. Freezing level rising to 1700 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
- In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Loose wet avalanches and cornice failures are most likely during the warmest part of the day when the surface snow is moist or wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets rests above a hard melt freeze crust buried 50 to 110 cm. Where the surface has a thick hard crust, human triggering of this weak layer is unlikely.
Aspects: North, North East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3