Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 15th, 2023–Mar 16th, 2023

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

Regions

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Hazard will rise to considerable in the alpine during peak daytime heating.

Use caution in wind loaded areas. Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanches taper off.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Tuesday, a skier accidental size 2.5 wind slab avalanche was reported. The group triggered the avalanche in a 2000 m start zone that had been reverse-loaded by northeast winds earlier in the week.

Explosive control in the region triggered a few wind slab avalanches to size 2.5. A natural, size 2.5, cornice triggered windslab avalanche was observed in the alpine.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

+20 cm of storm snow and southwest winds have formed wind slabs in lees at alpine and treeline. This sits above hard, wind-affected snow in open areas and a sun crust on solar slopes. Below 1800 m the surface is covered by a refrozen rain crust.

A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.

The mid to lower snowpack is well-bonded. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Scattered clouds clear throughout the night. Chance of isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Alpine temperatures are low of -7 °C. Ridge wind norhtwest 20 km/h. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.

Thursday

Mainly sunny with a few clouds in the afternoon. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind southwest 10 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1700 meters.

Friday

Mainly sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -1 °C. Ridge wind southwest 10 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1800 meters.

Saturday

Mainly sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 0 °C. Ridge wind southwest 15 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 2000 meters.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Stay off recently wind loaded slopes until they have had a chance to stabilize.
  • Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.