Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 3rd, 2020 8:12AM

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

Parks Canada ross campbell, Parks Canada

We are now back into an active weather pattern with significant new snow and winds forecasted this week. It is a good time to take a step back in terrain selection, and be patient for the Hazard to decrease.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A mix of sun and cloud today, strong to extreme winds from the SW, and the freezing level will rise to valley bottom. Tonight will bring around 15cm of new snow as a cold front passes over Rogers Pass from the NW. A break in precipitation on Wednesday, but still very windy, then another 20cm could fall between Thursday morning and Friday Morning!

Snowpack Summary

Strong to Extreme SW winds have built windslabs in open terrain features at all elevations. The February 22nd persistent weak layer is now buried down 60-70cm, and consists of 3-7mm surface hoar on all aspects up to 2450m, and a crust on solar aspects. No other layers are currently active in the mid and lower snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

In the last 24 hours we observed nearly 20 avalanches in the Highway Corridor up to size 3. These avalanches were primarily triggered from Extreme wind loading, and moderate amounts of new snow. There were numerous reports of skier triggered slab avalanches over the weekend up to size 2, failing on the Feb 22nd Surface Hoar layer.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Strong- Extreme winds have built windslabs in open terrain features on all aspects in the Alpine and exposed areas of TL and BTL. If triggered these wind slabs could step down to the Feb 22nd surface hoar layer.

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

The Feb 22nd SH is now buried 60+cm deep, which is a likely depth for skier triggering, especially in shallower snow pack areas. Steep solar aspects harbor a crust under the surface hoar layer, which can increase the sensitivity of triggering.

  • Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 4th, 2020 8:00AM