Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Elkford East, Elkford West, South Rockies.
UPDATED 7:33
Avoid avalanche terrain
Storm snow and strong wind may be forming touchy slabs.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
No recent avalanches have been reported. On Friday the field team reported seeing an older wind slab in the northern Crowsnest area. Check this MIN for details.
With significant precipitation and strong wind in the forecast, the likelihood of both natural and human-triggered avalanches is expected to rise throughout the stormy period.
Snowpack Summary
5 to 15 cm of new snow is expected to accumulate by the end of the day on Monday.
This new snow will add to the previous storm snow totals of around 5 to 10 cm, and are currently overlying a sun crust on south and west-facing slopes and at lower elevations. East of the Continental Divide, south and west faces may be stripped to ground or an old crust.
On north and east-facing upper-elevation slopes, the new snow is expected to be building into thick and reactive new slabs.
A widespread crust formed in early February is currently buried 30 to 60 cm. In some areas, a persistent weak layer of faceted grains has formed above and/or below the crust.The lower snowpack is generally facetted with some old melt-freeze crusts.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Cloudy with 5 to 10 cm of new snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
Mostly cloudy with 4 to 8 cm of snow. 10 to 15 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C.
Tuesday
A mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 15 km/h westerly ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -15 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with 3 to 10 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- As the storm slab problem gets trickier, the easy solution is to choose more conservative terrain.
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
- Storm slabs in motion may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
Storm slabs will be building on all aspects, but are expected to be deeper and more reactive on lee northerly and easterly slopes near ridgetops.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely - Very Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Weak faceted grains have formed above and below a crust that is buried 30 to 60 cm. There is potential for storm slabs to overload this layer, triggering a much larger avalanche.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3