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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 11th, 2024–Mar 12th, 2024

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

Regions

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

Choose conservative, low consequence terrain.

Wind slabs have the potential to step down to the persistent slab and remote triggering is still a concern.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Check out this great MIN describing conditions near Hasler.

A few size 1 and 1.5 rider triggered persistent slab avalanches have been reported in the last couple days as well as a few size 2 natural wind slabs. We expect wind and persistent slabs to be rider triggerable.

Snowpack Summary

New snow is being redistributed by ongoing southerly winds, leaving widespread wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain. Numerous sun crusts exist on steep south facing slopes. The snow surface will likely become moist at low elevations.

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

Monday Night

A mix of clear skies and cloud with 1 to 3 cm of new snow. 15 to 35 km/h south alpine wind. Treeline temperature -1°C.

Tuesday

A mix of sun and cloud with 1 to 3 cm of  new snow. 10 to 30 km/h south alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1600 m.

Wednesday

Clearing throughout the day with 1 to 3 cm of new snow. 25 to 40 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -4°C.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow at higher elevations. 40 to 60 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.

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.