Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Apr 8th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
bchristie,
Avalanche Canada
Before committing to your line, check for signs of windslab instability like shooting cracks, or fresh avalanches.
If you see signs of a rapidly warming snowpack, like snow that feels like a slurpy, or clumps up and pinwheels down a slope, retreat to less steep, more shaded terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday in the Loop ridge area, right on the border with this forecast area, some whumpfing and shooting cracks were reported on a wind-loaded road cut, in terrain not steep enough to avalanche. See more details on the Mountain Information Network (MIN) here.
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
Saturday Night
Mostly clear. No new snow/rain expected. Freezing level around 1700 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 Extreme at high elevations. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Monday
Cloudy. Light rain expected, 2-5 mm. Freezing level rising to 3000 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to extreme at high elevations.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy. 2-5 cm of snow expected. Snow line around 1200 m. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind, trending to strong 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.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
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
Expected Size
Loose Wet
As freezing levels rise to 2500 m, and the sun comes out again, loose wet avalanches will become possible.
Watch for signs of a rapidly warming snowpack, like snow pinwheeling or snowballing down the slope, or surface snow that starts to look and feel like a slurpy. Loose wet avalanches will become larger and more likely as this slushy snow gets deeper.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 9th, 2023 4:00PM
