Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 26th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Garth Lemke,

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The low rating still requires a constant evaluation of any changing conditions under foot as one travels through the mountains. Isolated terrain features may hold pockets of unstable snow as the "Low" rating defines.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sunday will bring clouds and flurries, 4 cm of snow, -6C, and SW light gusting moderate alpine winds. Monday will be 10cm of snow, -9C, light winds, and freezing level 1500m. Tuesday hopefully brings 13cm of snow, -7C and light gusting moderate West winds. Flurries will happen Wednesday, -7C, light winds, and 1800m freezing level.

Snowpack Summary

Wind slabs over previous hard surfaces which is a solid well bridged mid-pack. A weak temperature crust is buried approximately 10-20cm down and up to 1900m on all aspects which then a sun crust on solar aspects up to 2800m. Basal facets & depth hoar are typically located near the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing new was observed on Friday around Marmot Basin. Maligne and Columbia Icefield areas on Saturday noted nothing new of significance. Both days had excellent visibility.

Confidence

Due to the number and quality of field observations on Sunday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Wind slabs are on a variety of surfaces including previous hard layers and a temperature crust or sun crust 10-20cm down. Travelers are starting to successfully venture into large committing features yet watch for unstable snow on isolated features.

  • Watch hollow sounds on unsupported windslabs.
  • The stable avalanche conditions still require careful decision making.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 27th, 2022 4:00PM