Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2012 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada danyelle magnan, Parks Canada

Mild temps, 10-15cm snow and westerly winds in the transporting range forecast today. Yesterdays storm overloaded the snowpack, with natural avalanches running full path and touchy instabilities triggerable by skiers. This will continue today.

Summary

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
60cm of snow has fallen in 48hrs with rising temps. This has created a cohesive "upside down" slab. Skiers yesterday were easily triggering an instability within this slab, with propagations up to 100m wide.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
Buried surface hoar layers down over a meter continue to be reactive. Rapid loading with new snow amplified by windloading will make these layers more reactive. They may be triggered naturally with the new load, by skiers, or cornice fall.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
New snow is being transported by strong S winds, producing windslabs and deep drifts on open slopes at all elevations. Windloading will significantly increase the load on persistent weak layers. In fatter areas, they may be more easily triggered.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2012 8:00AM