Avalanche Forecast
South Rockies
Touchy wind slabs can be found in many alpine and treeline locations.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid steep slopes below cornices.
- Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- If triggered, the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers, resulting in large avalanches
Avalanche Problem 2: Deep Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Deeply buried weak layers are most likely to be triggered from thin or variable snowpack areas; or with a large load, like a cornice fall.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
- Avoid steep convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Snowmobilers triggered size 1.5 and size 2 wind slabs in the Crowsnest area on Saturday. On Friday, evidence of a persistent slab avalanche cycle from earlier in the week was observed near Mear Lake.
On Thursday, observations of some very large slabs were made in the North Elk valley. These are thought to have failed within the last week. Whumpfing was reported at treeline in the North Elk valley as well.
It is still possible to trigger a surprisingly large wind slab or persistent slab with the weight of a person or sled, especially from a convexity or thin snowpack area.
Snowpack Summary
Fragile cornices and hard and soft wind slabs can be found on many alpine and treeline slopes. Wind slabs overlie various surfaces, including older hard wind slabs, crusts, facets and spotty surface hoar.
The lower snowpack is weak with two primary concerns:
1) A widespread weak layer from mid-December composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar that is 100-150 cm deep.
2) A rain crust with sugary facets buried in late November near the bottom of the snowpack.
Although the snowpack structure is variable across the region, these persistent weak layers are generally widespread.
Weather Forecast
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud. Freezing level near 600 m. Moderate to strong westerly winds.
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Touchy wind slabs may be found on a variety of slopes at and above treeline.