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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 18th, 2023–Mar 19th, 2023

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

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Use caution in wind loaded areas. Minimize your exposure to steep slopes facing the sun during the hottest part of the day.

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche activity in the latter part of the week has been limited to size 1 wet loose avalanches from steep rocky slopes facing the sun.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

20 of storm snow falling earlier in the week has been redistributed by southwest winds at alpine and treeline into lee terrain. Storm snow tapers to a rain crust below 1700 m. Solar aspects at treeline and below are coved in a refrozen melt-freeze crust.

A melt-freeze crust with facets above can be found 50 to 120 cm deep. It has not produced any recent avalanche activity in the region, however, professionals are still tracking it to watch for signs of it becoming an active problem.

The mid to lower snowpack is well-bonded. Currently, we are not seeing the same basal weak layers and reactivity that many of the neighboring regions are experiencing this season.

Weather Summary

Saturday Night

Mainly clear with a few clouds. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Wind moderate west easing to light. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.

Sunday

Mainly sunny with clouds increasing in the afternoon. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 2100m.

Monday

Mainly cloudy. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Wind strong east. Freezing level 1500m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Wind light east. Freezing level 1300m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Be alert to conditions that change with elevation and sun exposure.
  • Avoid exposure to sunny slopes, especially in the afternoon.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.

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.

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

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.