Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.
40 to 60 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Numerous natural and rider triggered dry loose avalanches up to size 1.5 were reported on Friday.
Avalanche activity is expected to increase as the recent snow settles into a more cohesive slab.
Snowpack Summary
40 to 60 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.
A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried 80 to 120 cm down in the South Rockies and up to 200 cm in the Lizard range. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.
Weather Summary
Saturday night
Snow, 10 to 20 cm. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -14 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy. 10 to 20 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -10 °C. Freezing level 800 m.
Monday
Sunny. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.
Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
- Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Avalanche Problems
Storm Slabs
40 to 60 cm of recent low density snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Loose Wet
Naturally triggered wet loose avalanches will begin when the new snow sees the sun for the first time.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is down 80 to 200 cm. Large triggers such as smaller avalanches in motion could trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5