Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2024–Mar 9th, 2024

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.

Alpine

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Treeline

Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

East Kakwa, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

6:45 AM UPDATE Significant overnight snowfall has increased danger ratings, expect natural avalanche activity around Pine Pass and any other areas that received 20 cm or more overnight.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A few natural wind or storm slab avalanches have been reported on Friday morning in the Pine Pass area with the arrival of new snow and strong winds.

As new snow starts to accumulate and the load slowly starts to increase above buried weak layers, we expect persistent slabs to become more reactive.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is being redistributed by strong alpine winds, leaving widespread wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain.

30 to 60 cm below the surface a variety of potential weak layers may exist, including surface hoar in wind-sheltered terrain, weak facets, or a hard melt-freeze crust on south and west-facing slopes.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 60 to 90 cm deep. This crust may have a layer of facets above it.

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

Check out Avalanche Canada's field team's recent conditions report from the Tumbler Ridge area in the MIN.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with 0 to 10 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 20 cm of snow. 50 to 70 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Sunday

Mostly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy with 0 to 2 cm of snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Minimize exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.
Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.

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.

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.