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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2023–Mar 23rd, 2023

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

Regions

North Rockies, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

The weather pattern changes after after a another sunny day on Thursday.

Minimize your exposure to steep, rocky terrain facing the sun during the warmest part of the day.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Numerous size 1-1.5 wet loose avalanches triggered by solar radiation were reported on sunny aspects at upper elevations on Monday and Tuesday.

Snowpack Summary

Expect to find a melt-freeze crust on the surface of all aspects at treeline and below and on sunny aspects in the alpine. Solar radiation will break down the crust on sunny slopes throughout the day.

Lingering wind slabs may remain reactive to human triggers in isolated locations at upper elevations.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

A weak layer of large facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer is of most significant concern in shallow snowpack areas in the north and east of the region. The most likely areas to trigger this layer are shallow, rocky areas or where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear / 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -7 C / Freezing level at valley bottom

Thursday

Mix of sun and cloud / 20 km/h south ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -3 C / Freezing level 1700m

Friday

Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 cm / 10 km/h east ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -6 C / Freezing level 1100m

Saturday

mostly cloudy with isolated flurries / 20 km/h west ridgetop wind / Temperature at treeline around -5 C / Freezing level 1200m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • In areas where deep persistent slabs may exist, avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks and unsupported terrain features.

Problems

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.