Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 3rd, 2015 7:12AM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

ccampbell, Avalanche Canada

Purcells.

Northerly winds and periods of convective flurries have created wind slabs in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

Sunny and dry for Wednesday and Thursday with freezing levels around 1500 m and light winds. A mix of sun and cloud for Friday as freezing levels reach 2000 m and winds increase to moderate westerlies.

Avalanche Summary

Reports from Monday include several dry loose sluffs in steep terrain and thin soft wind slabs reacting to slope cuts with minimal propagation.

Snowpack Summary

5- 10 cm of recent storm snow adds to the variable amounts of dry facetted snow on top of the mid-February crust with associated buried surface hoar in sheltered areas, or more recent melt-freeze crusts on sun-exposed slopes. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer can be found about a metre below the surface in deeper snowpack areas. The mid-January surface hoar, can be found below that. These layers have gained significant strength, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased dramatically. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Locally deep and weak wind slabs may be lurking in unusual places. Although not expected to be large, they could easily take you for a ride.

Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Avoid freshly wind loaded features.>Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 4th, 2015 2:00PM