Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 8th, 2021 4:00PM

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

Deryl Kelly,

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Caution as the sun comes out on solar aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: A mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Alpine temperature: High -7 °C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.

Wednesday: Flurries. Accumulation: 11 cm. Alpine temperature: Low -13 °C, High -9 °C. Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 45 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Warm temps and high solar input have created crusts and moist snow on solar aspects at TL and below. Continuing SW winds have extensively redistributed the snow pack at TL and ALP. The mid pack is supportive in deep areas, but shallow snowpack areas are weak and failing on buried facet layers in test results.

Avalanche Summary

Field teams down south today noted no new avalanche activity today.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Tuesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Ongoing moderate SW winds will continue to form slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line features. These wind slabs sit on the Feb 20th facet interface giving hard test results

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Deep Persistent Slabs

Caution in thin facetted snowpack areas where triggering is more likely. This is a low probability but high consequence problem.

  • Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 9th, 2021 4:00PM