Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 7th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
ahanna,
Avalanche Canada
Fresh snow arrives overnight with moderate wind. Find the best riding and safest avalanche conditions in wind-sheltered terrain. If you venture up into more exposed elevations, watch for reactivity in pockets of freshly wind-loaded snow.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain.
Weather Forecast
An upslope system will bring enhanced snowfall to the eastern slopes of the Rockies Monday night. Greatest snowfall amounts will be near the Waterton border.
Monday night: Snowfall 15-20 cm on the eastern slopes of the range, 5-10 cm elsewhere. Light to moderate northeast ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature around -12 °C. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom.
Tuesday: Flurries bringing up to 5 cm. Light wind. Alpine high around -10 °C.
Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Light wind. Alpine high around -15 °C.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Strong northwest ridgetop wind easing to light. Alpine high around -7 °C.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday, explosive control work near Elkford produced cornice, storm slab and loose dry avalanches size 1.5-2.5 on north aspects in the alpine. Good visibility allowed observation of 2-3 day old storm slabs up to size 2.5 in the Castle backcountry. In neighboring Waterton National Park, ski cuts produced storm slabs and loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5.
On Friday and Saturday, avalanche activity was predominantly loose dry up to size 1.5.
Snowpack Summary
10-25 cm of low density snow is forecast to fall by the end of the day Tuesday, favoring the eastern slopes of the range. The new snow arrives with some wind so watch for freshly loaded pockets of wind slab in leeward terrain features at upper elevations. It falls on a crust on steep south facing slopes and below 1500 m.
Last week's snowfall amounts varied widely through the region with as much as 50 cm in the south and as little as 10 cm in the north. Below 2100 m, a rain crust exists embedded within this snow. Below, a variety of old surfaces include a sun crust on solar aspects, and potentially weak, sugary crystals in shady areas.
The middle and lower snowpack are generally well consolidated, with a crust/facet layer from early December found near the ground. It is currently considered dormant but could become active later this season.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 25cm of new snow.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.
- Be aware of the potential for loose avalanches in steep terrain where snow hasn't formed a slab.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Soft, fresh wind slabs may be found in unusual terrain features due to reverse loading by irregular wind direction. Wind slabs may sit over a sun crust on solar aspects and a rain crust below 2100 m. Crusts make a slick bed surface for avalanches.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 8th, 2022 4:00PM
