Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 29th, 2015 8:04AM

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

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Rising freezing levels today with more snow/rain along with it. Stick to conservative terrain and minimize your groups exposure to overhead hazard.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Zonal weather pattern has been bringing a series of storms to our region and will continue to do so until Wednesday. 10-15cm of snow is expected in the Alpine today as freezing levels slowly rise throughout the day to ~1800m. Associated westerly winds will be strong. This system will taper off by tonight giving us a little break until early Tuesday

Snowpack Summary

~12.0mm of rain two nights ago to 2000m has left a 8cm wet layer of snow beneath ~10cm of moist fresh snow since then. At tree line the top 60cm is moist. Limited alpine observations, expect 30cm of recent storm snow over persistent weak layers in the top 1.5m which were reactive to human triggers prior to this storm.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose wet avalanches observed in the highway corridor yesterday ranging in size 2.0 to 2.5.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Recent and forecast precipitation could be enough to overload instabilities within our snowpack. A number of weak layers reside in the top 1.5m and were triggered by people in the backcountry last week.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Storm Slabs

~30cm of recent snow in the Alpine over lying a number of crusts which were reactive to riders throughout the area. Tread cautiously in the upper elevations where recent precipitation fell as snow.

Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

More rain is expected throughout today as freezing levels rise to near 2000m.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 30th, 2015 8:00AM