Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Kakwa, McGregor, North Rockies, Pine Pass, Tumbler.
Reactive wind slabs may be present at higher elevations.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
Southerly winds continue to redistribute the 15 to 25 cm of recent snow. Higher-elevation wind slabs may remain reactive. March sun and warm daytime temperatures may begin to have an effect on the snowpack. Crusts may form on steep solar slopes and at low elevations.
The new snow is sitting on generally hard surfaces from extensive wind effects or a thin sun crust on steep, sunny slopes.
The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and consolidated.
A weak layer of large and fragile facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer is of most significant concern in shallow snowpack areas in the north and east of the region.
Weather Summary
Thursday Night
Clear, no accumulation, winds southwest 15 km/h gusting to 40, treeline temperatures -10 to -5 °C with freezing levels dropping to valley bottom.
Friday
Sunny, no accumulation, winds southwest 20 to 25 km/h, freezing levels rising to 1600 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud, no accumulation, winds southerly 20 to 25 km/h, freezing levels getting up to 1700 m.
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods, no accumulation, winds south 20 km/h, freezing levels to 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate southerly winds may have formed wind slabs on lee aspects at higher elevations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 2.5 - 4