Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
Use caution in wind loaded areas. Minimize your exposure to steep slopes facing the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity in the latter part of the week has been limited to size 1 wet loose avalanches from steep rocky slopes facing the sun.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20 of storm snow falling earlier in the week has been redistributed by southwest winds at alpine and treeline into lee terrain. Storm snow tapers to a rain crust below 1700 m. Solar aspects at treeline and below are coved in a refrozen melt-freeze crust.
A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.
The mid to lower snowpack is well-bonded. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mainly clear with a few clouds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Wind moderate west easing to light. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.
Sunday
Mainly sunny with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 2100m.
Monday
Mainly cloudy. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Wind strong east. Freezing level 1500m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Wind light east. Freezing level 1300m.
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.
- Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
- Avoid exposure to sunny slopes, especially in the afternoon.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Recent southwest winds have built wind slabs in alpine and treeline lees.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Cornices
The full impact of the march sun is slowly weakening cornices. Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Steep, rocky terrain facing the sun is likely to see thin loose wet avalanches release during the heat of the day.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2