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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 7th, 2024–Apr 8th, 2024

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

Regions

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Moderate southwest wind has built wind slabs in lee features at treeline and above and may not bond well to the crust. Assess often as you transition into open terrain.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday explosive control work initiated several size 1 to 1.5 storm and wind slab avalanches. Numerous size 1 wet loose avalanches occurred on steep solar slopes.

Data is limited in this region. Please consider posting your observations to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Accumulated storm snow and increasing winds will develop a wind slab over a widespread melt-freeze crust that can be found on all aspects and elevations. On solar-facing slopes, the melt-freeze crust is robust and supportive.

A second crust in the upper snowpack is down 20 to 40 cm, depending on aspect and elevation.

A persistent weak layer of facets sits atop a second buried crust down 100 to 180 cm. This layer is unlikely to be human-triggered in areas where a thick crust above the weak layer is present.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mainly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5° C.

Monday

Mainly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy, scattered flurries 2 to 5 cm. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 1900 m.

Wednesday

Mainly sunny. 10 to 20 km/h southwest wind. Treeline temperature -2° C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind 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.