Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 12th, 2013 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Wind Slabs and Loose Dry.
snow safety,
Avalanche Canada
We expect a natural avalanche cycle to start Wednesday and last for the next 48 hours. SH
Summary
Weather Forecast
West winds up to 110km and 30+cm of snow is forecast Wednesday at higher elevations, with highest amounts along and West of the divide Freezing levels are expected to rise to 1900-2000m over the next 24hrs and remain there until Friday. We could see some rain in areas such as Field and Kootenay as freezing levels rise.
Snowpack Summary
A field trip to Kootenay found a well settled 2m snowpack at 2000m with the only compression results in the top 15cm of loose storm snow. 10cm supportive rain crust to 1800m in that area. This is a stark contrast to thinner snow pack areas which have storm slabs and wind slabs 30-40cm thick sitting over a mainly facetted snowpack.
Avalanche Summary
Ski cutting produced small but far running sloughs in steeper terrain today within the top 15-20cm of snow. The sloughs ran for approx. 200m. No other avalanches reported or observed.
Confidence
Problems
Storm Slabs
New storm slabs will be sitting on a variety of surfaces, from colder powder snow or sun crust at higher elevations depending on aspect, to rain crust 1800m and below.
- Good day to make conservative terrain choices.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Strong to extreme W winds will be developing wind slabs on lee aspects and will be sensitive to human triggering.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
At higher elevations, expect all gully features and exposed terrain to slough with the increased winds and new snow. Steep terrain below treeline may slough far and fast.
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 13th, 2013 4:00PM
