Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2013 4:47PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
garth lemke,
Parks Canada
Give the storm snow a few days to settle. Expect the danger rating to increase if the sun comes out especially in the afternoons.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Tuesday will be cloudy periods, light winds and flurries. Freezing level is forecast to be 900m in the afternoon. Wednesday it will be sunny and warm with afternoon freezing levels rising to 1500m. Thursday will be flurries and freezing level rising to 1500m but likely colder wednesday night leading into Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
A significant amount of snow arrived with warm temperatures and relatively light winds Friday-Saturday. This snow created a storm snow instability on all aspects and elevations yet mild temperatures helped keep things relatively in place. The new snow sits on previous windslab surfaces at treeline and above. Faceted weak snow at lower elevations.
Avalanche Summary
Explosive control work produced some size 3 soft slabs in the Icefields and Maligne lake alpine areas. They slid on the storm snow interface. A few dusted the highway. Natural activity was limited but a few size 2-3's were noted. Winds still need to slab up the storm snow. Gullies above polar circus were 85% cleaned out with control work.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday
Problems
Storm Slabs
The storm snow instability will persist until it has had time to settle. Winds and/or warm afternoons will build slabs on lee aspects.
Carefully evaluate big terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.Stay off recent wind loaded areas until the slope has had a chance to stabilize.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2013 4:00PM
