Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2015 8:30AM

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

Avalanche Canada bcorrigan, Avalanche Canada

New snowfall will be light, if any at all.  Be aware of increasing hazard with daytime heating.

Summary

Confidence

Good - The weather pattern is stable

Weather Forecast

No significant precipitation in the near forecast, The freezing level remains near 1500 m for the most part, but will drop to valley bottom Saturday afternoon, then climb to 1500 m again for Sunday. Winds will be light NW for the most part with a mix of sun and cloud.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1-1.5) skier-triggered wind slabs have been reported in exposed alpine terrain, and loose snow sluffing in steep terrain. One observer reported seeing a couple of natural size 2-2.5 slabs from steep solar aspects that were loaded by recent Northwest winds.

Snowpack Summary

Variable recent storm snow totals across the region are generally in the 5-25 cm range. The snow surface varies with elevation and aspect with respect to sun and wind exposure, and includes dry new snow, loose facetted snow, wind slabs, and sun crusts. The mid-February crust is down around 10-30 cm where it isn't wind loaded or scoured. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. 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

An icon showing Wind Slabs
There was one new report of a size one skier-triggered wind slab on a steep convex roll on Wednesday. Neighbouring regions also experienced widespread dry loose sluffing in steep terrain, and isolated small wind slab activity in exposed areas.
Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2015 2:00PM