Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 26th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
Stephen Holeczi,
We expect an increase in the hazard starting Saturday and peaking Sunday. This increase will vary from region to region on Saturday. Watch locally for these changes when deciding about terrain, and how much risk you want to accept.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Cloudy skies on Saturday with no new snow in the Banff area, and 5-10cm elsewhere by the end of the day. Alpine winds will increase to 50-60km/h from the W/NW Saturday AM and continue strong into Sunday. An additional 10-20cm is expected Sunday, with potential rain at lower elevations as valley bottom temps will stay above freezing Sat night.
Snowpack Summary
15-40 cm of snow has fallen within the last week with variable SW-NW winds. This new snow sits over a sun crust (up to ridge tops) on solar aspects, over a temperature crust at lower elevations and over a mix of surfaces on North aspects including facets and spotty surface hoar.
Avalanche Summary
Limited observations today. 1 natural cornice failure in the Sunshine backcountry triggered a small wind slab (sz. 1), and ski cutting thin wind slabs in immediate alpine lee features.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Watch for wind slab development in the alpine and exposed treeline areas as the winds are forecasted to increase on Saturday with plenty of dry, loose snow for transport.
- Use caution in lee areas. Wind loading could create slabs.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially in steep confined alpine terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
With increased winds and lots of dry, loose snow, expect this problem to increase in higher alpine terrain over the course of the day.
- Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep, confined or exposed terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 27th, 2021 4:00PM
