Avalanche Forecast

Moderate

• We are uncertain about forecast precipitation amounts.

With heavy snow and rain, a natural avalanche cycle started on Monday and continued into Wednesday. The reported avalanches have been large to very large (as big as size 4). These avalanches have been a mix of slab and loose, dry and wet.

Looking forward, we expect natural and human triggered avalanches to become less likely as the temperature drops.

Recent snowfall amounts throughout the region have been variable; 25-50 cm of settling storm snow has been redistributed into deep deposits on north and east aspects in the alpine. Rain saturated the upper snowpack at and below treeline, with moist surface snow continuing into the alpine, as high as 2000 m. Now that temperatures are dropping, expect to find a surface crust everywhere but the high alpine.

A thick crust buried earlier in March can be found down 50 to 80 cm at treeline and below.

The early February crust, with facets above it, can be found down 100-160 cm.

The remainder of the snowpack is well settled and bonded.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy. 2 cm of snow. 25-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind, falling to 5 km/h through the night. Treeline temperature -6°C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Friday
Cloudy. 5 cm of snow (but with 15-20 cm possible around Core Lodge, and south to Kakwa Provincial Park). 15-25 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6°C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday
Mix of sun and clouds. 3 to 4 cm of snow. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8 °C.

Sunday
Mix of sun and clouds. 2 to 5 cm of snow. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

• Use small, low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
• Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind, or rain.
• Although avalanches are unlikely when a hard crust exists on the snow surface, the crust may pose a slip and fall hazard.