Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 13th, 2017 8:10AM

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

ian gale, Parks Canada

Glacier.

More snow and high freezing levels today means we can expect both natural and human triggered avalanches. Stick to simple terrain & limit your exposure to overhead hazard

Summary

Weather Forecast

Flurries should bring another 5-10cm today with moderate southerly winds & freezing levels climbing to 1800m. More snow is expected over the next few days, with 10cm on Tuesday,15 Wednesday & 5 Thursday! The bad news is that freezing levels will increase each day, reaching 2000m by Wednesday, which could likely mean rain below treeline.

Snowpack Summary

The recent storm has deposited 75 cm of new snow over the last 3 days. Warm temperatures have rapidly settled this snow with the surface becoming moist up to 1900m. In the alpine steady ridgetop winds have been creating windslab. The late Feb crusts are buried 70-120cm deep on solar aspects depending on elevation.

Avalanche Summary

Natural and artillery triggered avalanches to size 4 ran full path to the valley floor yesterday. As freezing levels remain high and the snow/rain will continue Natural avalanche activity will continue throughout today. Human-triggered avalanches are likely at all elevations.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

Steady snowfall this week (70cm in 3 days) and warming temps today have produced a touchy storm. Yesterday this storm slab was very reactive and resulted in numerous full path avalanches.

If triggered the storm/wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried crusts on South and West aspects are hidden under the March snow. Skiers were able to trigger slab avalanches on this layer earlier in the week. Recent storm snow has a high potential to dig down and trigger these deeper slabs.

Avoid unsupported slopes.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 14th, 2017 8:00AM