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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 9th, 2020–Mar 10th, 2020

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

South Rockies.

Storm slabs may be reactive to human triggering, especially in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Watch for signs of instability such as whumphing, cracking and recent avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT - Cloudy with clear periods / west wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine low temperature near -11

TUESDAY- Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries / southwest wind, 40-60 km/h / alpine high temperature near -7

WEDNESDAY - A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries / northwest wind, 20-40 km/h / alpine high temperature near -6

THURSDAY- A mix of sun and cloud / west wind, 20-30 km/h / alpine high temperature near -8

Avalanche Summary

In the neighbouring Waterton Lakes National Park region, there were several natural loose dry avalanches up to size 1.5 reported on Monday.

In the neighbouring Lizard Range on Sunday, loose dry and soft slab avalanches were sensitive to human triggering and explosive avalanche control work to size 1.5. These avalanches were 10 to 20 cm in depth, running fast and far. 

Snowpack Summary

20 to 30 cm of recent storm snow sits on wind slabs in exposed areas, and a sun crust on solar aspects (south through west facing slopes). Melt-freeze crusts extend up to about 1900 m on other aspects. 

A thick crust with facets on it currently sits 40-80 cm below the surface and can be found up to 2100 m. The middle of the snowpack is generally strong, but the base of the snowpack contains basal facets that are most prominent in shallow rocky start zones.

Terrain and Travel

  • Don't be too cavalier with decision making, storm slabs may remain sensitive to human triggering.

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.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.