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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 22nd, 2024–Mar 23rd, 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, 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, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

15 to 50 cm of recent low density snow (highest amounts in the Crowsnest) may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous naturally triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches were reported on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

15 to 50 cm of recent low density snow (highest amounts in the Crowsnest) 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

Friday night

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 3 cm snow. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy with isolated flurries, 3 to 5 cm snow. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy. 40 to 50 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -11 °C. Freezing level 700 m.

Monday

Sunny. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level 1300 m.

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.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer (a slab) of new snow that breaks within new snow or on the old snow surface. Storm-slabs typically last between a few hours and few days (following snowfall). Storm-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.

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.