Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2012 8:46AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

The next pulse of moisture looks like it will bring heavier precipitation. Expect about 30-40 cm of snow combined with strong southwest winds on Sunday night. Snow should taper off by Monday morning with a chance of convective flurries Monday afternoon. The freezing level should drop down to valley bottom by Monday as the wind clocks to the northwest. Tuesday morning should be dry and cool with valley temperatures dropping down to about -10.0 and light northwest winds. Cloudy skies with moderate northwest winds are forecast for Wednesday. The freezing level should rise to about 1200 metres.

Avalanche Summary

Some small size 1.0 avalanches were reported that released in thin windslabs on NE aspects.

Snowpack Summary

Forecast strong westerly winds and new snow are expected to build windslabs and a storm slab by Monday morning. East winds during the day on Sunday have reverse loaded some alpine features. There is a mix of wind scoured surfaces and thin stiff windslabs. Reports of a preserved stellar layer exist down 20-40 cm. This layer has been reactive to rider triggers and should remain on your radar. Up to 60cm sits over a variety of old surfaces. These include melt-freeze crusts at lower elevations, old sun crusts on Southerly aspects into alpine elevations and spotty areas of surface hoar in sheltered treeline areas. The mid and lower snowpack is well bonded and strong.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
New snow and forecast strong winds are expected to develop new windslabs in the alpine and at treeline.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 5

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
New snow and wind should continue to build a storm slab above buried weak layers of preserved stellars, crusts, facets, and/or sheltered areas with buried surface hoar.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 6

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2012 8:00AM