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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 31st, 2023–Apr 1st, 2023

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

Regions

North Rockies, Kakwa, McGregor, Pine Pass, Tumbler.

Make conservative terrain choices while we see how the snowpack reacts to the storm. New snow and wind are making wind slab avalanches possible.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

There is no avalanche activity to report in the last few days.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 10cm of soft snow sits over a crust or moist snow on all aspects except north. Moderate southwest wind may be forming deeper, reactive pockets of windslab on leeward slopes. On high northerly slopes, the new snow adds to settling snow from last week that sits on facets and small surface hoar.

The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and strong.

A weak layer of large facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer is still a concern in shallow snowpack areas.

 

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy. 0-8 cm of snow expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Saturday

Cloudy. 0-2 cm of snow expected. Light to moderate west and southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level rising to 1200 m. High of -5 °C at treeline.

Sunday

Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light northwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1200 m.

Monday

Partly cloudy. No new snow expected. Light west and southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level at valley bottom in the morning, rising to 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
  • Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
  • Wind slabs are most reactive during their formation.

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.

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.