Avalanche forecast

North Rockies

Feb 24 – 25, 2024Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

New snow with wind will raise the avalanche danger.

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

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    2–3

    The crust that was buried in early February has weak, sugary facets or surface hoar on top of it, making it a bad weak layer.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible - Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Wind and new snow will form storm slabs throughout the day. These slabs will be most reactive where they overlie surface hoar, facets, or a crust.

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.

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