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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 19th, 2025–Mar 20th, 2025

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

Regions

South Rockies, Akamina, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Southwest winds have formed slabs that may be reactive to human triggers. Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs are more likely.

Confidence

Low

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Tuesday, but observations have been limited.

On Monday, several skier-triggered wind slabs up to size 1 and several explosive-triggered storm slabs up to size 2 were reported on a variety of aspects at treeline and above.

On Sunday, a naturally triggered size 3 avalanche was reported on a northeast-facing, large, steep, and convex slope in the alpine. The avalanche was observed from a distance and the type is unknown.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40 cm of recent snow and southwest winds formed slabs that may still be reactive to human triggers.

In most areas, the storm snow rests on a melt-freeze crust, except for high-elevation north and east-facing slopes.

A persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January is down 50 to 100 cm. Rocky slopes with a convex shape on northerly and easterly facing aspects at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Mainly cloudy with a chance of light flurries. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -6 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Thursday

Cloudy with snowfall 4-8 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

Friday

Cloudy with snowfall 5-15 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Saturday

A mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind-affected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.

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.