Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Dogtooth, East Purcell, Elkford East, Elkford West, Purcells, South Rockies.
Isolated pockets of wind slabs may linger in steep terrain in the alpine.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Riders triggered small loose and wind slab avalanches on Friday in steep northerly alpine terrain. Looking forward, it may remain possible for humans to trigger similar avalanches as the recent snow slowly bonds to the snowpack.
Snowpack Summary
Northerly alpine slopes hold 10 to 20 cm of settled storm snow that overlies a hard melt-freeze crust. Isolated wind slabs may linger in steep northerly alpine terrain. All other aspects and everywhere below treeline have a hard surface crust. A dusting of snow at high elevations Saturday night will fall onto these surfaces.
The remainder of the upper snowpack is a mix of hard snow and crusts. The lower snowpack contains old weak layers that are currently dormant.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow or rain at lower elevations. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 2000 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may linger on shaded aspects in steep, alpine terrain. Assess for slabs prior to entering high-consequence terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5