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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 14th, 2024–Mar 15th, 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 and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Alpine
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Below Treeline
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.

Regions

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

Avoid avalanche terrain.A widespread natural avalanche cycle will occur over the next few days.

Check out our latest blog about the forecasted warming.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

On Thursday, natural wind slab avalanches were reported up to size 2.5.

On Wednesday, reports across the region noted a few natural persistent and storm slab avalanches up to size 2. These failed between 1600-1800 m wind slabs on north facing slopes.

We expect to see a widespread natural avalanche cycle over the next few days. Avoid avalanche terrain and exposure from overhead hazards (open slopes, cornices) as avalanches could run full path.

Snowpack Summary

10 cm of new snow brings the recent storm snow totals to 40 cm. At treeline and above, the recent storm snow is being redistributed by ongoing winds, leaving widespread wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain and wind slabs on leeward terrain. Moist snow surfaces will extend into the alpine with rising freezing levels.

A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 50 to 110 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.

The eastern portion of this region is much shallower with a highly variable and wind-affected snowpack.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with some clear periods. 10 to 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures near -2°C. Freezing levels at valley bottom.

Friday

Mix of sun and cloud. 15 to 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures are a high of +2°C. Freezing level rising to 2900 m.

Saturday

Sunny. Mostly light winds but in places gusty to 40 km/h from the west at ridgetop. Alpine temperatures high near +8°C. Freezing level rising to 3000 m.

Sunday

Sunny. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures low of +3°C and a high of +8°C. Freezing level rising 3000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Brief periods of sun could quickly initiate natural avalanche activity.

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.