Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 5th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
Lisa Paulson,
Parks Canada
Continue to expect natural avalanches with ongoing strong SW winds and snow forecasted.
Summary
Weather Forecast
For Friday - 5 - 15 cm is forecasted with highs -4C and strong SW winds that will diminish over Friday afternoon. Temperatures will fall to -5 to -10C. Another 5- 10 cm expected Saturday with light to moderate wind. The avalanche hazard is expected to remain elevated with these continued inputs.
Snowpack Summary
Approximately 60 cm has fallen in the past week with strong to extreme Westerly winds creating widespread wind slabs. Watch for buried sun crust on steep solar aspects. In thin snow pack areas a dense mid-pack sits over a weak, faceted base. Generally this area has a strong snowpack, with snow depths over 300 cm in the alpine.
Avalanche Summary
Local ski hills report ski cutting & explosive controlled wind slabs 15-30 cm thick. One size 2.5 deep persistent release on an alpine solar aspect with explosives & a skier triggered slab on the Feb 1 crust near Sunshine (1700 m).
Several natural storm slabs up to sz 2.5 observed along highway 93S yesterday where intense wind loading was occurring.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
Expect to find wind and storm slab formation on lee aspects and open areas from the alpine to below tree line. Loose dry sluffing from steep terrain is also a concern, especially in gulleys, terrain traps & above cliffs with ongoing snowfall & wind.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
- Watch for fresh storm slabs on exposed lee slopes and open areas at all elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 6th, 2020 4:00PM
