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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Apr 5th, 2023–Apr 6th, 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, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South.

Watch for wind slab formation in exposed alpine terrain with increased winds starting Thursday.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

A number of solar-triggered, loose avalanches up to size 1 were reported on Tuesday in steep, south-facing terrain.

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

Dry, powder snow remains on shaded (northerly) slopes. While moist snow or thin crusts exist on solar slopes and all aspects below ~2000 m.

A buried melt-freeze crust exists in the mid-snowpack, down 50 to 120 cm from the surface.

A weak layer of facets at the base of the snowpack persists, despite any recent avalanche activity. Professionals are still closely tracking this layer to watch for signs of it becoming active again.

Weather Summary

Wednesday night

Mostly clear. Moderate southwest wind. Alpine temperatures -5 to -10 C. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with cloudy periods. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperature 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 2200 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, with scattered flurries. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Alpine temperatures 0 to -5 C. Freezing level 2000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Pay attention to the wind, once it starts to blow fresh sensitive wind slabs are likely to form.
  • 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.