Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 13th, 2017 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
grant statham,
Avalanche Canada
Temperatures reached 5-10 degrees above zero in Field on Sunday and Monday. Continued warm temperatures and high freezing levels this week will make ice climbing in Field a delicate choice. If you go, go early and be done by noon.
Summary
Weather Forecast
A SW flow continues across BC and Alberta bringing continues precipitation and warm temperatures this week. Expect another 5cm on Tuesday, but up to 20cm by the end of the week. Temperatures on Tuesday will reach 0 degrees at treeline with freezing levels extending upwards to 2000m. Moderate winds overnight on Monday will calm down for Tuesday.
Snowpack Summary
10cm of soft surface snow became moist on Monday afternoon at lower elevations. This overlies a 40cm settled slab that produces sudden planar shears and is the main concern in the upper snowpack, particularly where the winds have effected the surface snow and created a stiffer windslab.
Avalanche Summary
No observations from the Little Yoho or Field area today, but a trip to Mt. Cathedral did not observe any avalanche activity (poor visibility). East of here, a size 2.5 windslab ran over the ice climb Rogan's Gully near Banff. Local ski areas are reporting thin windslabs formed from overnight winds on Sunday night.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
A 40-50cm cohesive windslab exists at higher elevations, and in specific wind effected areas near treeline. This slab reacts easily to tests and its expected that skiers could trigger it.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, South West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Several buried weak layers in the middle of the snowpack are gaining strength over time as they become bridged, especially in the deeper areas closer to the Wapta. Dig down to see if they are present on your line, and how they are reacting.
- Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 14th, 2017 4:00PM
