Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
Before committing to your line, check for signs of windslab instability like shooting cracks, or fresh avalanches.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported before 4 pm on Friday.
On Thursday, the South Rockies field team was out in the Crowsnest area, and reported good skiing, and very small, isolated pockets of thin windslabs right at ridge crests. See more details in their Mountain Information Network (MIN) report here.
If you have any observations from this region, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Dry, powder snow remains on shaded (northerly) slopes. Moist snow or thin crusts exist on solar slopes and all aspects below ~2000 m.
A buried melt-freeze crust exists in the mid-snowpack, down 50 to 120 cm from the surface.
A weak layer of sugary crystals at the base of the snowpack persists. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area, but professionals continue to monitor for signs of it becoming active.
Weather Summary
Friday Night
Increasing cloud through the night. No new snow expected. Freezing level falling to 1700 m. Treeline temperature around -2 °C. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to strong at high elevations.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy. Possible trace of snow. Snow line around 1500 m. Treeline temperature around -2°C. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to extreme at high elevations.
Sunday
Mostly sunny. No new snow/rain expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to strong at high elevations. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy. Light rain expected. Freezing level rising to 3000 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to extreme at high elevations.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Dry, soft snow persists at high elevations on shaded slopes. Moderate southwest wind in the alpine has the potential to form reactive windslabs in leeward terrain.
Use extra caution below ridgecrests and in cross-loaded features. Watch for signs of instability like shooting cracks.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2