Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 4th, 2019–Mar 5th, 2019

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: South Rockies.

Cold dry conditions continue. Watch for signs of instability as you travel, such as whumpfing, cracking, and recent avalanches.

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

MONDAY NIGHT: Clear, light east wind, alpine temperatures drop to -15 C.TUESDAY: Sunny, light southeast wind, alpine high temperatures near -10 C.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, trace accumulations, light southeast wind with moderate gusts, alpine high temperatures near -8 C.THURSDAY: Isolated flurries with 3-8 cm of snow, 40-60 km/h southwest wind, alpine high temperatures near -5 C.

Avalanche Summary

On small (size 1) slab was triggered in steep terrain on Monday. On Saturday and Friday, a few size 1 wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers and some small natural wind slabs were observed.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow with moderate winds has likely formed wind slabs in exposed terrain. Older wind slabs are buried under the new snow and may be difficult to detect. Cold temperatures have been transforming most of the snowpack into soft faceted snow. In thicker 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.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

Hard wind slabs remain possible to trigger. If triggered, they could scour down into the soft faceted snow beneath them.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagations due to the presence of hard windslabs.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2