Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
Dial back your terrain choices where you are finding more than 20 cm of new snow. Avoid wind loaded areas where slabs are deeper, more cohesive, and are likely reactive to human triggering.
Confidence
Low
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in the region on Monday.
We expect backcountry users will see evidence of numerous, small, wet loose avalanches triggered by the sun on steep solar slopes.
If you have any observations from this region, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In the alpine and around treeline, 5-20 cm of new snow covers a frozen crust, with moist snow below.
The mid snowpack is generally settled and strong at treeline and above.
A melt-freeze crust that was buried in mid January can be found 60 to 100 cm below the snow surface.
A weak layer of large, sugary crystals persists at the base of the snowpack. This layer has not produced recent avalanche activity in this area, but professionals continue to monitor for signs of it becoming active.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 3 cm accumulation. Light northerly ridgetop winds. Freezing levels fall to 1000 m. Treeline low around -6 °C.
Wednesday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries In the south of the region 3-4 cm of new snow is forecasted whereas in the north 10-20 cm could accumulate. Light northwest ridgetop wind increasing to moderate in the afternoon. Freezing levels 1400 m. Treeline high around -5 °C.
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, 5 cm accumulations. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing levels 1400 m. Treeline high around -5 °C.
Friday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries, trace accumulations. Light west ridgetop wind. Freezing levels rise from valley bottom to 2000 m by mid-day. Treeline high 0 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
- Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Storm snow and wind is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
The north Crowsnest Pass region is forecast to get the highest snowfall amounts. We expect strom slabs will be most reactive in areas that receive higher snowfall amounts and on steep, wind exposed slopes where new snow is more likely to form a cohesive slab. Use caution around leeward terrain features where deposits are deep.
In southerly facing terrain expect new snow to overlay a melt freeze crust, providing an ideal sliding surface for storm slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2