Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 2nd, 2015–Mar 3rd, 2015

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

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

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.

Expect the dust on crust to sluff easily and travel quickly. Watch out for pockets of old wind slab that might be covered up now.

Weather Forecast

Expect a mix of sun and cloud with flurries today before an arctic front moves in tonight. The front will bring cold clear conditions until midweek with ridge top winds gusting to 40km/hr from the north tomorrow. The ridge breaks down by Thursday with a Pacific storm bringing precipitation to the coast and interior.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 5cm of new snow has covered a mix of surface hoar, facets, crust, pockets of soft snow and slab in isolated locations. The new snow will bond poorly and sluff easily on these previous surfaces. The Feb 14 crust down 20-25, up to 10cm thick. Persistent weak layers down 1-1.5m are stubborn to trigger but could be triggered by cornice fall.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed yesterday. Recent natural avalanche activity has been limited to small skier triggered avalanches on isolated wind slabs and sun triggered loose avalanches on steep solar aspects.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slabs

There are several weak layers in the snowpack that are now difficult to trigger but may result in large avalanches if they do fail. Strong solar radiation or a large cornice failures are possible triggers.

Conditions are greatly improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.Carefully evaluate and use caution around thin snowpack areas.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely

Expected Size: 3 - 4

Wind Slabs

Up to 5cm of snow will make it harder to spot a loaded area. Isolated pockets of wind slab are still reactive to skiers if you find the right spot on a lee feature with underlying crust. Keep this in mind particularly on exposed features.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep alpine features.The recent snow may now be hiding windslabs that were easily visible before the snow fell.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2