Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Wet.

Avalanche Canada jsmith, Avalanche Canada

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20 to 35 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.

Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous naturally and explosive triggered storm slab avalanches up to size 2.5 were reported on mostly northerly aspects at treeline and above near Fernie on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

20 to 35 cm of recent snow overlies a crust on all but north facing aspects in the alpine.

A widespread crust with facets above is buried up to 180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the places where it may still be possible to trigger this layer with large loads.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 5 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -8° C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3° C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

20 to 35 cm of recent snow has formed storm slabs that are reactive to human triggers, especially in wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Expect the sunshine to trigger wet loose avalanches on sunny aspects at all elevations.

Aspects: North East, East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2024 4:00PM

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