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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 8th, 2024–Mar 9th, 2024

Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
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

Lizard-Flathead, South Rockies, Akamina, Flathead, Lizard, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Danger may reach HIGH as mild temperatures and strong sunshine weaken the snowpack. Large natural avalanches may occur.

Choose small, low angle slopes free from overhead hazard.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous large to very large slab avalanches were triggered naturally and by explosives across the region over the past few days (size 2 to 3.5). Avalanches are failing in both storm snow layers and on a deeply buried persistent weak layer of crust/facets.

Snowpack Summary

Surface conditions currently include sun crusts on south-facing slopes, lightly wind-affected snow, and settling snow.

A widespread crust is buried 75-150 cm deep, and weak facets above this crust have been producing large avalanches throughout the Rockies.

The snow below the crust is mostly strong and bonded.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mostly clear. 20-40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level drops to valley bottom.

Saturday

Sunny with increasing cloud in the afternoon. 30-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -1 °C with freezing level climbing to 2000 m.

Sunday

Snow begins overnight, 5-15 cm.

Mostly cloudy during the day with 5 cm of snow. 30-50 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

Monday

Snow continues overnight, 5-15 cm.

Mostly cloudy during the day with another 5-10 cm possible. 30-40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Conservative terrain selection is critical, choose only well supported, low consequence lines.
  • Avoid being on or under sun exposed slopes.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Cornice failures could trigger very large and destructive avalanches.

Problems

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.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.

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.