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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 25th, 2024–Mar 26th, 2024

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

Regions

South Rockies, Bull, Crowsnest North, Crowsnest South, Elkford East, Elkford West.

Use Extra caution as you venture into wind effected terrain.

Recent storm snow may not have bonded yet to the underlying surface.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous naturally triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches and several rider triggered size 1 storm slabs were reported on all aspects at treeline and above on Saturday.

Avalanche activity decreased on Sunday with just a few small ski cuts reported.

Snowpack Summary

40 to 50 cm of recent snow may still be available for wind transport. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations. The snow surface will become moist at low elevations with rising freezing levels.

A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried 80 to 120 cm. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.

Weather Summary

Monday Night

Mostly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow. 15 to 30 km/h west alpine wind. Treeline temperature -7°C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with 2 to 4 cm of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h west alpine wind. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow. 30 to 50 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with trace amounts of new snow. 20 to 40 km/h southwest alpine wind.  Freezing level rising to 1800 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
  • Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.

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.