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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 2nd, 2023–Apr 3rd, 2023

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

Regions

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

An unstable weather pattern will bring clouds, sun and flurries Monday. Sporadic flurries and wind will continue to promote wind slab formation at upper elevations.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been observed.

If you have any observations from this region, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

New snow and wind are forming wind slabs at higher elevations, over a melt freeze crust (on all aspects at low elevations, and on sun affected slopes to mountain top). On north facing slopes at treeline and alpine, new snow sits over previously wind affected surfaces.

A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep, but it has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region.

The weak layer of facets at the base of the snowpack produced large avalanches in the nearby Kananaskis Country recently. In this forecast region, activity last occurred on these layers on the 18th of March in terrain south of the Crowsnest Pass where a weak and shallow snowpack exists. Professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming active again.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 1-4cm. Light southwest wind. Alpine high of -7 °C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday

Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks and scattered flurries, accumulation 1-5cm. Light to moderate northeast wind. Alpine high of -4 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Light east wind. Alpine high of -2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with sunny breaks. Light southwest wind. Alpine high of -3 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.

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.