Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
Carefully assess exposed slopes for wind slab. strong winds mean that wind slabs could be found further down slope than expected.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Earlier this week natural wind slabs were been reported to size 2.5, out of north facing alpine features. Reports suggest winds have mostly stripped the alpine, with isolated features holding wind loading now.
Please post your field observations and photos on the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Around 15 cm of new snow has fallen in the last 3 days. At higher elevations this sits over extremely wind affected surfaces including large sastrugi. Many alpine areas may not hold new snow and instead be stripped back to hard surfaces.
A melt-freeze crust with facets above, sits 50 to 100 cm deep. This crust could be a good sliding surface for avalanche activity but has shown limited reactivity so far. We are monitoring this layer going forward as it may become a persistent problem.
The mid to lower snowpack is considered well bonded at this point. Currently we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow expected. Strong westerly winds and a low of -10 °C at 2000 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected. Moderate to strong westerly winds and a High of -7°C at 2000 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow expected. moderate southwest winds and a high of -8°C at 2000 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -8°C at 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Although their spatial distribution is isolated, wind slabs are reactive.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Southwesterly winds have formed wind slabs on north and east facing slopes. Alpine slopes are mostly stripped back to hard surfaces, but isolated pockets of wind loading may remain triggerable to humans. Greatest likelihood of wind slabs is at treeline elevations.
Pay particular attention to wind loading mid to low on slopes at treeline elevations, and be wary of cross-loaded features.
A melt freeze crust from mid-January has shown some reactivity, small wind slabs may step down to this layer resulting in a bigger avalanche.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2