Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 23rd, 2015 8:25AM

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

Peter, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Unsettled convective weather could result in variable snow accumulations on Tuesday.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Tuesday

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mainly cloudy with occasional snow flurries (around 5-10 cm). The freezing level is around 1500 m. Winds are light from the W-NW. Wednesday: Cloudy with sunny breaks. The freezing level is near 1800 m and winds are moderate from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level rockets up to around 2800 m and winds are moderate from the SW.

Avalanche Summary

There are no new reports of avalanches for the past couple days. However, there is potential for touchy storm or wind slabs at and above treeline and loose wet slides below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

Around 5-15 cm of new snow has likely fallen at elevations above 1500 m. Periods of strong W-SW winds may have redistributed the new snow in exposed high elevation terrain, creating fresh wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded slopes. Lower elevation slopes are probably moist or wet and the snowpack is rapidly dwindling. A weak rain crust from last weekend is down 30-50cm and generally has a good bond with snow above. There are a couple older persistent weak layers in the midpack that are still intact and have the potential to wake-up with substantial warming or heavy loading. Cornices may become fragile with afternoon warming.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Fresh wind slabs may be found on exposed lee and cross-loaded slopes. These wind slabs may grow with unsettled and convective weather this week.

Highmark or enter your line well below ridge crests to avoid wind loaded pillows.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Expect moist surface snow to sluff out of steep terrain during sunny breaks, periods of rain, or as the temperature rises during the day.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

A crust/facet layer down 90 to 150cm, although unlikely, still has the potential to produce very large avalanches with a heavy trigger like cornice failure or a surface avalanche in motion.

Use caution around convexities or areas with a thin or variable snowpack.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 5

Valid until: Mar 24th, 2015 2:00PM