Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 21st, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Dry, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
CB,
Avalanche Canada
Good skiing is being found with up to 15cm of new snow over a supportive crust.
The weak layers under this crust are still a concern, especially in steep and shallow or rocky features, so evaluate your terrain of choice carefully.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Several loose dry avalanches up to size 1 were reported by Marmot Basin avalanche control teams on Wednesday.
No new avalanches were observed by a field team in the Icefields area on Thursday.
Snowpack Summary
About 10cm of new snow fell onto a 2-5cm melt freeze crust on Wednesday. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 50 to 150cm.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -7 °C.
Light ridge wind.
Saturday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -9 °C.
Ridge wind east: 10 km/h.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
Problems
Loose Dry
Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom of the snowpack. This is a low probability but high consequence problem. Stay away from weak, rocky, shallow location where triggering this layer is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2024 4:00PM
