Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.
Riders could trigger large avalanches due to a buried weak layer at a critical depth.
Avoid large slopes and look for signs of instability like shooting cracks and recent avalanches.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
Field observations are very limited, but no new avalanches have been reported at the time of publishing.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 50 cm of new snow sits on a variety of layers including surface hoar, facets, and a crust on south and west-facing slopes.
The widespread crust buried in early February is down 50 to 70 cm. This crust may have a layer of facets above it.
The remainder of the snowpack is settled and not concerning.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow. 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -22 °c.
Monday
Partly cloudy. 25 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -23 °c.
TuesdayMostly clear skies. 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -25 °c.
WednesdayMostly cloudy. 15 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °c.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
- Give the new snow time to settle and stabilize before pushing into bigger terrain.
- Use conservative route selection and resist venturing out into complex terrain.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Wind and new snow have formed storm slabs at all elevations. These slabs will be most reactive where they sit on surface hoar, facets, or a crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
The crust that was buried in early February has weak, sugary facets or surface hoar on top of it making it a bad weak layer that riders can trigger.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3