Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 31st, 2014 8:09AM

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

ali haeri, Parks Canada

Glacier.

We are entering a spring weather pattern where the hazard may be low in the morning but will increase as the day progresses. Monitor daytime warming for your location and plan to be off of big slopes by the afternoon.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A ridge of high pressure will maintain a dry weather pattern for the next few days with a mix of sun and cloud. Convective squalls may produce locally brief storms. Winds will remain light from the south west and freezing levels are expected to rise to 1400m today.

Snowpack Summary

Upper snowpack on solar aspects is moist to tree line and will have crusts at various depths, the Mar 22 down ~ 50cm, the Mar 13 crust down 75cm, the Mar 2 down 1-1.5m. On north aspects the upper snowpack consists of settling storm snow. The Feb 10 surface hoar crust layer is down 2m.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed yesterday.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

We`ve had some incremental loading, 30cm in 3 days. The sun is expected to poke through the clouds today so expect conditions to become more dangerous as the day progresses, specially on the solar aspects if that happens.

Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

Many weak layers are buried within the snowpack in the upper 2m. These are all deep enough to cause large avalanches that will inflict significant damage. Shallow areas and day time warming are most likely to trigger them.

Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.Choose well supported terrain without convexities.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Apr 1st, 2014 8:00AM