Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
Use caution in wind loaded areas. Minimize your exposure to steep slopes facing the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity in the latter part of the week was limited to size 1 wet loose avalanches from steep rocky slopes facing the sun.
On Tuesday, a skier accidental size 2.5 wind slab avalanche was reported. The group triggered the avalanche in a 2000 m start zone that had been reverse-loaded by northeast winds earlier in the week.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Primarily southwest winds have redistributed new snow from earlier in the week into alpine and treeline lee terrain. This sits above hard, wind-affected snow in open areas and a sun crust on solar slopes. Below 1800 m the surface is covered by a refrozen rain crust.
A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.
The mid to lower snowpack is well-bonded. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Mainly clear. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level at valley bottom.
Saturday
Mainly sunny with cloudy periods. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 2000m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Wind light southeast. Freezing level rising to 2000m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Wind light east. Freezing level 1500m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent Southwest winds have built wind slabs in alpine and treeline lees.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
The full impact of the march sun is slowly weakening cornices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Steep rocky terrain facing the sun is likely to see thin loose wet avalanches release during the heat of the day.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2