Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 2nd, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
stephen holeczi,
Avalanche Canada
A short intense storm is currently forecast for Friday which will likely cause an avalanche cycle. Climbers should limit overhead exposure in gully features as natural avalanches initiated up high have potential to reach below treeline.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A 24 hour long system will roll into the region Friday AM with 3000m winds up to 100kmh, 2000m winds around 40kmh and 20-30cm of snow. Temperatures will be around -10C in the alpine and -3 to -5C at 2000m. Winds will die down and temperatures will cool off Saturday and Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
30cm of soft snow overlies a well-settled and firm middle of the snowpack. Near treeline, concern remains for a facetted layer that sits in the lower third of the snowpack, and an old surface hoar layer down about 50-70 cm that has recently produced sudden planar shears. Deeper snowpacks to the west of the Wapta Icefields have the strongest snow.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanche activity was observed or reported on Wednesday.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
With strong winds and fresh snow, expect new wind slabs to form and fail during the forecast storm. If triggered these may step down to where weaker layers are present, especially at treeline.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Overall there is decent bridging over weaker persistent layers in the alpine, but larger triggers may wake these up. At treeline and below these persistent layers are more prominent and are down 50-70cm.
- Use conservative route selection, choose moderate angled and supported terrain with low consequence.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
In the short term, watch for heavy sloughing in gullies and terrain traps. This could be especially true on the ice climbs around the Field area.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2017 4:00PM
