Avalanche Forecast
Regions: East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Sugarbowl, Tumbler.
Use caution as you transfer into wind-affected terrain.
Human-triggered avalanches are possible.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On large (size 2) and one small (size 1) naturally triggered wind slabs were reported on Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
30 to 60 cm overlies a hard melt-freeze crust and isolated surface hoar crystals in wind-sheltered treeline terrain.
Variable winds have created windslabs on all aspects near or just below ridge crests in the alpine and treeline elevations.
A weak layer of surface hoar and/or faceted grains buried mid-February is around 50 to 100 cm deep. This layer seems to be gaining strength.
The lower snowpack is well-settled.
Weather Summary
Wednesday night
Clear with increased cloud through the night. 30 to 50 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Friday
Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Saturday
Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind-exposed terrain.
- Recent wind has varied in direction, so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs are possible to trigger.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2