Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 24th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

lcrawley, Avalanche Canada

North Rockies, Sugarbowl, East Kakwa, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Renshaw, Robson, Tumbler.

New snow and wind are raising the avalanche danger.

Dial back terrain choices as the storm slab builds over buried weak layers.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Field observations are very limited, but no new slab avalanches have been reported. Only small loose dry from extreme terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of snow fell Friday/Saturday with more on the way. This buried 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 5 to 40 cm. This crust may have a layer of facets above it.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled and not concerning.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Cloudy with up to 10 cm of snow. 25 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °c.

Sunday

Cloudy with 10 to 15 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind switching to north in the afternoon. Treeline temperature -7 °c.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with 5 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -23 °c.

Tuesday

Mostly clear skies. 15 to 25 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -18 °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.
Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Wind and new snow have formed storm slabs and they continue to get deeper. These slabs will be most reactive where they sit on surface hoar, facets, or a crust.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

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.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Feb 25th, 2024 4:00PM