Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 6th, 2021 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs, Deep Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
Cory Boschman,
Summary
Weather Forecast
Sunday: Sunny with cloudy periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -7 C.
Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.
Monday: A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: Low -12 C, High -9 C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm of new snow at treeline. Warm temps and high solar input have created crusts and moist snow on solar aspects at TL and BTL. Continuing SW winds have extensively redistributed the snow pack at TL and ALP. The midpack is supportive in deep areas, but shallow snowpack areas are weak and failing in buried facet layers in test results.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose wet and slab avalanches on solar aspects up to size 2, mostly at TL and BTL observed on Thursday into Friday. Only smaller activity observed on Saturday thanks to cooler temps. Several large natural slab avalanches observed in high alpine features over the past week, many were step downs from wind slabs or were cornice triggered.
Confidence
Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Ongoing moderate SW winds will continue to form slabs in the alpine and exposed treeline features.
- If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
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
Expected Size
Loose Wet
The sun is packing a strong punch on south through west aspects when it comes out.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 7th, 2021 4:00PM
