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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2025–Mar 27th, 2025

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

Regions

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

Natural avalanche activity is expected to continue while temperatures and freezing levels remain elevated. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday, numerous natural wet loose avalanches were observed to size 2.

Large natural persistent slab avalanches have run on buried weak layers in recent days. A size 2.5 was observed near Castle on Monday, and the Field Team reported a size 2.5 in the Crowsnest area on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Limited overnight refreeze will keep surfaces moist to wet until freezing levels drop throughout the day.

Where still intact, a melt-freeze crust is found 20 to 40 cm deep, except on high-elevation north and east-facing slopes.

A persistent weak layer of surface hoar or facets from late January is buried 70 to 120 cm deep. It is most likely to be triggered on steep, rocky, convex slopes on northerly and easterly aspects at treeline and above.

Weather Summary

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy with scattered showers. 10 to 20 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level 2500 m.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature +2 °C. Freezing level falling to 2000 m.

Friday

Mostly cloudy with scattered flurries, 5 to 7 cm. 10 to 20 km/h variable ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 to 2000 m.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries, 1 to 2 cm. 10 to 20 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature - 4 °C. Freezing level 1000 to 1500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be aware of the potential for large avalanches due to buried weak layers.
  • The likelihood of deep persistent slab avalanches will increase with each day of warm weather.
  • Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain; avalanches may run surprisingly far.
  • Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain with no overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.

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.

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.