Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet.
Tim Haggarty,
While new snow has started to accumulate over the solar crusts, the snowpack at low elevations has been weakened with a poor freeze and rain. Watch temperatures carefully as you plan your weekend and watch the bond of the new snow to the old layers.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Convective activity Friday afternoon is expected to clear overnight allowing for a weak freeze to around 1500m Saturday morning. Flurries Saturday could bring 10 to 15 cm to the region with perhaps another 5-10 Sunday. SW winds will start of in the moderate range in the alpine Saturday but can be expected to increase to the strong range.
Snowpack Summary
5-10 cm of new snow fell Friday with rain and no freeze below 1500m. The new snow now buries sun crust on steep solar aspects (East to West) into the Alpine, a temperature crust on all aspects below 1800m and Surface hoar up to 10mm located in isolated, shaded areas.
Avalanche Summary
A few loose wet avalanches were observed today on Mt Dennis below the freezing level. Thursday, Lake Louise ski patrol ra few reported natural and skier controlled loose wet avalanches in steep, rocky and thin snowpack features located on solar slopes below treeline with intense solar heating.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Poor crust recovery Thursday night combined with rain below 1500m has weakened the snowpack at valley bottom levels. At higher elevations new snow over crusts will become moist quickly with solar inputs.
- Use extra caution on slopes if the snow is moist or wet.
- If triggered, loose wet sluffs may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2021 4:00PM
