Avalanche Forecast

Poor - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather is uncertain

A low pressure center is moving into Southern Alberta where it looks to remain stationary through to Friday. This low will continue to spread light-moderate amounts of precipitation to the region through Saturday. Sunday looks to be sunny, solar radiation will be intense when the sun pokes through. Freezing levels will hover near 1600 m until Saturday night, and then fall to valley bottom. Ridgetop winds will be moderate from the West, switching Easterly on Sunday.

On Wednesday many natural loose wet avalanches were reported up to size 2.5 on South aspects. A significant size 3 wet slab was also seen on a south aspect before lunch time.

Mild temperatures have settled out much of the upper snowpack. Spring-like conditions prevail; with surface crusts on solar aspects and melt conditions (no overnight re-freeze) on all aspects below 1700 m. New wind slabs may build with forecast snow and wind at upper elevations. Cornices are large and exist on most ridgelines. I don't expect this to be an immediate problem until it heats back up again, possibly Sunday. Up to 100 cm sits on the March 27th interface. This interface consists of a buried sun crust on southerly aspects and a temperature crust on more northerly slopes. A thin layer of facets and or surface hoar can be found on this crust on all aspects. The bond on this interface seems to be improving. The mid-pack is well settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack sits a weak layer of facets and depth hoar. I'd be suspect of steeper unsupported slopes where the snowpack goes from thin to thick.