Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Glacier.
Incoming snow and rain will not improve the challenging travel and variable spring snowpack present through out the park.
Expect conditions to vary greatly with elevation and aspect.
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity has decreased with cooler temperatures and cloud cover.
A widespread cycle of natural size 3-3.5 avalanches occurred Fri to Tues. These wet avalanches failed within the moist upper snowpack and stepping down to the persistent weak layer (over 1m deep).
A field team investigated a natural, size 3 avalanche that occurred on Mar 18th, on a N aspect at treeline. The failure plane was down ~120 cm on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.
Snowpack Summary
New snow will bury a crust found on most aspects and elevations, except treeline and above on polar slopes. Rain is forecast below treeline, this will further weaken the snowpack.
A weak layer formed on March 8th is down 40-50 cm. It has been preserved on Northerly aspects at treeline and above.
The Feb 3rd crust is down 80-140 cm. A weak layer of loose snow sits above it. This is a significant persistent weak layer and will be a concern for the foreseeable future.
Weather Summary
A clash of weather systems over the province will bring cooling temperatures and light (possibly moderate) snow over next few days.
Tonight: Flurries, 5-10cm, Alp Low: -4, Light SW winds, Snow Lvl: Valley Bottom
Thurs: Flurries, 5-15 cm, Alp High: -4, Light gusting to Mod NW winds, Snow Lvl: 1000 m
Fri: Cloudy/Flurries, Alp High: -5, Light E winds
Sat: Cloudy/Flurries, Trace, Alp High: -5, Light NE winds
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.
- A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
The Feb 3rd crust/facet complex is down 80-140cm and has been the main sliding layer for the most recent large avalanches. As temperatures gradually drop, this layer will become harder to trigger, but should remain as a concern in your decision making.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3.5
Storm Slabs
New snow and south/south-west winds may form reactive storm slabs. Distribution and sensitivity will increase if more snow accumulates than forecast. Use caution in terrain where a widespread crust is present beneath the new snow. And on slopes that the wind has loaded.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Loose Wet
Use caution in steep terrain where the snowpack is wet and loose. This will become less of a problem as temperatures cool over the next couple days. Signs of instability for this problem include pinwheeling and snowballing.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Below Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible - Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5