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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Feb 23rd, 2024–Feb 24th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

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

New snow with wind will raise the avalanche danger.

Dial back terrain choices as the storm builds slabs over buried weak layers.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Only small dry loose avalanches in steep terrain have been reported in the past couple of days.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of recent snow could fall by the end of the day Saturday. This will add to the 5 cm that buried a variety of layers including surface hoar and facets in sheltered terrain, a crust on south and west-facing slopes as well as old wind slab on exposed terrain.

The widespread crust buried in early February is down 5 to 40 cm. This crust may have a layer of facets above it.

The remainder of the snowpack is settled and not concerning.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with up to 15 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest winds. Treeline temperature -10 °c.

Saturday

Cloudy with up to 10 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h southwest winds. Treeline temperature -8 °c.

Sunday

Cloudy with 10 to 20 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h south winds switching to northeast in the afternoon. Treeline temperature -10 °c.

Monday

Cloudy with 5 cm of new snow. 10 to 20 km/h northeast winds. Treeline temperature -20 °c.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Fresh snow rests on a problematic persistent slab, don't let good riding lure you into complacency.
  • Watch for fresh storm slabs building throughout the day.
  • Seek out sheltered terrain where new snow hasn't been wind-affected.

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.

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.