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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 7th, 2024–Mar 8th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Regions

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

Triggering large avalanches is a serious concern as illustrated in this PHOTO BLOG.

Stick to low-angle slopes, avoid overhead hazards, and choose smaller objectives.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous large to very large slab avalanches were triggered naturally and by explosives across the region over the past few days (size 2 to 3.5). Avalanches are failing in both storm snow layers and on a deeply buried persistent weak layer of crust/facets.

This persistent slab problem should dominate terrain choices, don't count on surface clues of instability.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions currently include settling powder, sun crusts, and some wind-affected snow in higher open areas.

A widespread crust is buried 75 to 150 cm deep, and weak facets above this crust have been producing large avalanches throughout the Rockies.

The snow below the crust is mostly strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Clear skies. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C.

Friday

Mostly sunny. 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

Saturday

Sunny with increasing clouds in the afternoon. 45 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level climbing to 2000 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
  • Avoid being on or under sun exposed slopes.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Cornice failures could trigger very large and destructive avalanches.

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.