Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 1st, 2018–Mar 2nd, 2018

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Glacier.

Expect to find pockets of wind slab as you venture higher into the alpine. Human triggered avalanches are still possible and can be large in size in isolated areas with our current danger rating. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully.

Weather Forecast

Today will be mainly cloudy with isolated flurries with light variable winds. The alpine high will be -7 with a freezing level rising to 1200m. A forecasted 10-15cm of snow arrives over the weekend and will bring gradually cooling temperatures and light winds.

Snowpack Summary

~35cm of settling storm snow now buries a facet layer. Height of snow at 1900m is 322cm. Recent moderate to strong southerly winds formed pockets of wind slab in the alpine and tree line areas. A crust is down 30-50cm on solar aspects and the mid January persistent weak layers are buried 150-200cm.

Avalanche Summary

A size 1.5-2.0 skier accidental was reported yesterday in a cross loaded feature, below the cliffs lookers right of Video Peak (Bear Teeth). Slab depth was 30-50cm and likely failed on the Feb 20 facet layer. The skier went for a small ride, no injuries but lost a pole. No new natural avalanches observed along the highway corridor yesterday.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Low density snow and recent moderate southerly winds have created pockets of wind slab in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line, which overlies a facet layer. Caution is warranted at ridge-top, in cross loaded features and on convex rolls.

Be careful around wind loaded areas near ridge crests, cross loaded gullies and roll-overs.Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5