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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2024–Feb 24th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

A buried crust associated with faceted snow remains a concern. Carefully assess steep lines for signs of instability.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

This MIN report details a skier-triggered avalanche on the crust/facet layer found throughout the region.

On Wednesday, several explosive-controlled and naturally occurring avalanches sizes 1.5 to 2, were observed in the Lizard Range. They were a variety of storm slabs, persistent slabs and loose wet avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

On the surface, a thin sun crust can be found on south-facing slopes. Surface snow is generally moist below treeline.

Approximately 30 to 60 cm of snow has buried a widespread crust formed in early February. In some areas, weak faceted grains have formed above and/or below the crust.

Generally, the snowpack is deeper and more consolidated in the Lizard Range and Flathead, and shallower and more faceted to the north of Sparwood and east of the continental divide.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy. 40 to 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with 0 to 5 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy with 2 to 10 cm of snow. 10 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Exercise caution on steep, unsupported slopes.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Avoid areas where the snow feels stiff and/or slabby.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.