Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 10th, 2017 8:26AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

ross campbell, Parks Canada

Glacier.

A spike in avalanche hazard today, with new snow and warming temperatures. Avoid traveling under large avalanche paths that can run full path.

Summary

Weather Forecast

10-15cm of new snow is expected today, freezing level rising to 1500m with an Alpine high of -5 and wind gusting to 50km/h from the south west. A lull in storm systems tomorrow, than the long term forecast looks warm and wet!

Snowpack Summary

Incremental new snow this week plus another 15cm last night pushes our March total easily over 1m of new snow @ 1900m! The late Feb crusts on solar aspects now lie between 50cm and 1m in depth, and a spotty mixed form layer lies under the storm snow on more polar asp. The Nov Cr remains dormant while the midpack is gaining strength and rounding.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday there was a MCR and a MIN post of 2 small size 1 slab avalanches failing on the late Feb Cr in the Connaught slide path and one size 1 slab avalanche on route to little Sifton . This am in the highway corridor we observed 2 size 3 avalanches (Tupper 1 and 2 slide paths) running full path. We think this will increase through out the day.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

Incremental loading this week + 15cm of new snow last night and warming temps today is producing a touchy storm. This storm slab can step down to deeper layers and run full path, which has already occurred this am in the HWY corridor!

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried crusts on solar aspects are hidden under the march snow. Skiers were able to trigger slab avalanches on this layer earlier in the week and yesterday.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Avoid unsupported slopes.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 11th, 2017 8:00AM