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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 30th, 2024–Mar 31st, 2024

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

Regions

South Rockies, Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

20 to 30 cm of recent snow and southwest wind may have formed wind slabs in isolated locations below alpine ridgetops.

Use caution when approaching steep and rocky terrian.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Several rider triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches were reported on Friday.

Data is limited in this region. Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Strong solar radiation has formed a surface crust everywhere except north facing terrian at upper elevations.

20 to 30 cm of recent snow overlies a crust on all but north facing aspects in the alpine.

A widespread crust with facets above is down 80 to 120 cm. 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

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7° C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h variable direction ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1° C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Monday

Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 5° C. Freezing level 2600 m.

Tuesday

Sunny. 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 8° C. Freezing level 3100 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

Tuesday

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.