Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West, Flathead, Lizard, Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies.
New snow and afternoon clear skies may initiate wet, loose avalanches from steep solar-facing slopes. Avoid steep, sunny slopes during periods of intense solar radiation.
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday numerous size 1 wet loose avalanches occurred on steep solar slopes.
Data is limited in this region. Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
Roughly 20 to 25 cm of accumulated snow covers a widespread melt-freeze crust that can be found on all aspects and elevations. On solar-facing slopes, the melt-freeze crust is robust and supportive. A second crust in the upper snowpack is now down 20 to 40 cm, depending on aspect and elevation.
A persistent weak layer of facets sits on top of a second buried crust down 100 to 180 cm. This layer is unlikely to be human-triggered in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, 5 to 10 cm. 20 to 25 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C.
Sunday
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries, clearing in the afternoon, 2 to 4 cm. 15 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Monday
Mostly sunny. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries 2 to 4cm, 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeleine temperature -2° C. Freezing level 2000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Clearing in the afternoon and rising freezing levels may initiate wet loose avalanches on steep solar facing slopes.
Aspects: South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5
Wind Slabs
20 to 25 cm of accumulated snow and variable winds may have formed a wind slab over a supportive melt-freeze crust. Triggering these wind slabs is most likely in direct lee of ridges and high points in open terrain.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Unlikely
Expected Size: 1 - 1.5