A cooling trend is reducing avalanche danger. However, it remains possible for humans to trigger a buried weak layer that could produce large slab avalanches.
Facets over a hard melt-freeze crust may be found 50 to 70 cm deep. This layer remains reactive in snowpack tests and has produced recent large avalanches.
Many small loose wet avalanches released over the past few days.
On Sunday, a very large persistent slab avalanche released naturally near Crowsnest Pass. On Friday, a rider triggered a persistent slab avalanche. See the photos for more information.
A cooling trend should reduce the likelihood of triggering avalanches. Remain cautious around thin, rocky features, where triggering a persistent slab remains possible.
Consider sharing your observations to the MIN.
As the air cools, wet surface snow will freeze into a hard melt-freeze crust. This crust likely exists to mountain tops, with the thickest crust found on sun-exposed slopes. A dusting of snow in the alpine on Tuesday may accumulate on the crust.
Weak faceted grains above a crust from early-March is buried about 50 to 70 cm deep.
Below this, the snowpack is generally well consolidated. However, facets exist at the base of the snowpack in shallow areas near Elkford.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy. 60 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 3 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Tuesday
Mix of sun and clouds with isolated flurries. 1 to 2 mm of precipitation as snow or rain at treeline. 60 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 30 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny. 20 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
