Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2019 4:11PM

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

cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Wind affected snow is the main concern for Friday. Seek out sheltered areas where new snow hasn't been redistributed into wind slabs.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Thursday night: Cloudy with clear periods and isolated flurries with a trace of new snow. Strong southwest winds.Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Moderate southwest winds easing over the day. Alpine high temperatures around -10.Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Light southwest or west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -10.Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud with decreasing cloud. Light southwest or west winds. Alpine high temperatures around -8.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Wednesday. One small (size 1) slab and a few loose dry avalanches were triggered in steep terrain on Monday. A few size 1 wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

New wind slabs will form in Alpine and possibly treeline areas with light new snow amounts and strong winds in the forecast for Thursday night.Cold temperatures have transformed most of the snowpack into weaker faceted snow with few if any distinct layers, with the exception of alpine terrain where hard wind slabs and wind pressed snow are found.In deep snowpack areas, you may find a slab sitting above a layer of facets and surface hoar that was buried in mid-January and is now 30-60 cm deep. The layer is most prominent in the Elk Valley between 1600 m and 1900 m, but no recent avalanche activity has been reported on this layer.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Strong southwest winds and and light new snow are likely to have been forming thin new wind slabs on lee slopes and behind exposed terrain features. Older, more stubborn slabs can be found on all aspects.

Whumpfing, shooting cracks and recent avalanches are all indicators of unstable snow.Be careful around freshly wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll-overs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2019 2:00PM