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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2024–Mar 19th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Continue to choose mellow terrain, and avoid being under steep slopes especially during periods of sun.

Triggering large avalanches is still possible until a strong surface crust forms.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Sunday.

On Saturday, a widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 2.5 continued, with some loose wet avalanches even being reported on north aspects.

On Friday, several natural persistent slab avalanches were observed, primarily on solar aspects, up to size 2.5.

As temperatures start to drop, we expect natural avalanche activity to be less common.

Snowpack Summary

Previously moist or wet snow surfaces have began to form into a melt freeze crust. It is expected that this cooling will begin to build a strong and robust surface that will suppress sensitivity of triggering avalanches.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 50 to 110 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.

The eastern portion of this region has a much shallower, highly variable and wind-affected snowpack.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Clear. No new precipitation. Freezing level 2000 m dropping to 1200 m. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.

Tuesday

Becoming cloudy. Light to moderate southeast ridgetop wind. Freezing level 1200 m. Treeline temperature around -1 °C.

Wednesday

Cloudy. Moderate northeast wind. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom. Treeline low around -10 °C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy. Moderate northwest wind. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom. Treeline low around -10 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • In times of uncertainty conservative terrain choices are our best defense.
  • Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
  • When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

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.