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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 25th, 2024–Apr 26th, 2024

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, Purcells, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Dogtooth, East Purcell, West Purcell, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Slab avalanches are possible in areas with more than 20 cm of new snow, especially on wind-loaded terrain features.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has primarily been small wet loose avalanches.

Expect wind and storm slab problems to develop over the weekend, especially in areas that received more than 20 cm of new snow.

Snowpack Summary

New snow will gradually accumulate at upper elevations with scattered flurries across the Purcells and South Rockies over the weekend. Freezing levels will fluctuate between 1500 and 2200 m, so there will be a mix of rain and snow at treeline elevations. Slabs are most likely to form in lee alpine terrain.

The upper snowpack is a mix of hard snow and crusts. In terrain above 2000 m, old inactive weak layers may exist in the lower snowpack.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow above 1500 m. 20 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Friday

Cloudy with 5 to 20 cm of snow above 1500 m. 15 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 2000 m. 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +1 °C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 1 to 5 cm of snow above 1800 m. 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Dial back your terrain choices if you are seeing more than 20 cm of new snow.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.

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.