Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 20th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
Kate Ryan,
Quality winter snow is preserved on north-facing slopes, but be wary of freshly formed wind slabs in the alpine!
Summary
Weather Forecast
A weak transient ridge sets up today, but will be ousted by another system on Tuesday.
Tonight: Flurries, trace accumulations. Low -9*C, Freezing level (fzl) 800m. Moderate SW wind.
Mon: Flurries (trace), low -9*C, high -5*C, fzl 1600m, mod SW wind
Tues: Flurries (4cm), high -1*C, fzl 1800m, mod SW wind.
Snowpack Summary
Approx 15cm of new snow fell in the last 24 hours with convective cells around the park. The Mar 11th suncrust is buried 50-70cm, and in some locations has weak, sugary snow around it. On shaded aspects, spotty small surface hoar may be buried down ~70cm (March 7), down 90cm (Feb 26), and >1m (Feb 15).
Avalanche Summary
Several natural slab avalanches occurred from steep paths in the highway corridor, with an average size of 2.5; they occurred in the last 24 hours and were triggered by the consistent strong south winds.
On Friday, there was a report of a skier involvement in a size 2 slab avalanche in steep terrain in Puff Daddy failing on the Mar 11th suncrust.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Although natural avalanche activity has tapered, the Mar 11th suncrust has proved sensitive to skier triggering on steep solar slopes this past week.
Small surface hoar from Mar 7th may also be lingering on Northerly aspects.
- Evaluate terrain features by digging and testing on adjacent, safe slopes.
- Convex features and steep unsupported slopes will be most prone to triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Moderate to strong South winds have created fresh windslabs in alpine lees.
- Use caution in lee and cross-loaded terrain near ridge crests.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 21st, 2022 4:00PM
