Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2022 4:15PM

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

Snow Safety,

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Pay extra attention to solar aspects where buried crusts may exist.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A weak ridge of high pressure builds for Friday. Lingering scattered flurries with only trace accumulations forecasted along the Continental Divide. Ridgetop winds SW in the 30-40 range. Freezing levels to reach 15-1700 m on Friday with good overnight recovery.

Snowpack Summary

20-50 cm of recent snow forming fresh wind slabs in alpine and some treeline terrain. On solar aspects a variety of buried sun-crusts exist down 30-60 cm that are producing moderate results with stability tests.

Avalanche Summary

Explosive control on Whymper and Simpson areas of Kootenay Park on Thursday produced small wind-slabs (up to size 2.5). Of note in Simpson area is when debris hit lower elevations (1800-1600 m) it triggered new slabs down 50 cm on a suspected temperature crust. Propagations on this layer were significant (up to 100 m).

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Winds have been variable throughout the region, but expect fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some exposed tree-line locations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Buried crust/facet layers exist in the upper snowpack on solar aspects. Recent tests show moderate sudden planar results on these crusts. Exercise caution in areas where these crusts exist.

  • Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2022 4:00PM