Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 4th, 2022–Mar 5th, 2022

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

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be low

Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be low

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Glacier.

Spring is in the air.

Pack your sun screen and you shades, and dial back your terrain selection on solar aspects during the heat of the day.

Weather Forecast

We are into a cooling/drying trend after our warm wet weather from earlier this week, with high pressure over Rogers Pass.

Tonight: Clear periods. Alpine Low -11*C. Light NE ridgetop winds.

Sat: Sun, convective clouds in the PM. High -8*C. Light N wind.

Sun: Sunny periods, isolated flurries. Low -11*C, High -10*C. Light W wind.

Mon: Flurries.

Snowpack Summary

Fluctuating temps have settled the upper snowpack & created a surface crust below 1500m (higher on solars).

Up to 45cm of snowfall early in the week, with warm temps and a brief wind spike, created storm slabs over the Feb 26th interface - wind effect in open areas, small surface hoar and facets in sheltered terrain, and sun crust on steep solars.

Avalanche Summary

Friday: Field teams observed a few size 1-1.5 loose snow avalanches triggered by the sun on steep slopes. There was similar activity in the highway corridor.

Thursday: A field team triggered a size 1.5 storm slab on a NE aspect at treeline, and there was a MIN report of an avalanche involvement on the Dome exit.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Storm slabs buried a mix of surfaces; firm windslabs in all open terrain, sun crust on steep solar aspects below treeline, and small surface hoar and facets in sheltered areas.

Lingering storm slabs may still be reactive on specific terrain features
If the sun stays out exercise caution on steep South and West aspects in the afternoon.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Loose Dry

The March sun has some punch, and may trigger loose snow avalanches on solar aspects during the heat of the day.

Avoid terrain traps, such as gullies, where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2