Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Loose Dry and Deep Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada TT, Avalanche Canada

Email

Skier triggered avalanches are still possible in the alpine and open areas near the tree line. Thick-to-thin trigger points and areas where the mid-March crust is not supportive to boots or skis are suspect.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Small solar triggered sluffs reported by Marmot Basin on Friday.Icefields Parkway patrol on Thursday saw no new natural avalanche activity.Monday

Small solar triggered sluffs reported by Marmot Basin on Friday.Icefields Parkway patrol on Thursday saw no new natural avalanche activity.

Snowpack Summary

About 10cm of soft snow on top of 2-10cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.Monday

About 10cm of soft snow on top of 2-10cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.

Tuesday

About 10cm of soft snow on top of 2-10cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.

Weather Summary

Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast

SundayA mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -17 °C, High -5 °C. Light ridge wind. Freezing level at valley bottom.

MondayA mix of sun and cloud. Precipitation: Nil. Alpine temperature: Low -10 °C, High -5 °C. Ridge wind west: 10 km/h. Freezing level: 1600 metres.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
  • Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Thick to thin trigger points and areas where mid March crust is not supportive to boots or skis are a suspect. This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust with a layer of weak facets above.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom of the snowpack. This is a low probability but high consequence problem. Stay away from weak, rocky, shallow location where triggering this layer is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3.5

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2024 4:00PM

Login