Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 5th, 2017 8:08AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Loose Dry.

Parks Canada chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

Human triggered avalanches are likely today. The storm slab will require a couple of days to bond to underlying surfaces. Remote triggering of avalanches is a very real possibility.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Cloudy with sunny periods today. Light winds from the NE. Freezing levels should remain below 800m. Isolated flurries with sunny breaks and cooler temperatures are forecasted for Monday/Tuesday, with winds becoming moderate from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

The storm snow totals 65-70cm from the last few days. Strong/extreme southerly winds built up touchy storm slabs at all elevations on all aspects. These widespread slabs have been failing within the storm layers, as well as digging down to fail on deeper persistent sliding layers (crusts or surface hoar).

Avalanche Summary

Widespread avalanche activity up to size 3.5 yesterday in the highway corridor as well as in the backcountry. Numerous crown-lines were observed from the valley-bottom that showed wide propagation around ridges and gullies. Skiers remote triggered from 200m away a size 2.5 slab avalanche on Teddy Bear Trees that partially buried several skiers.

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Widespread storm slabs were observed to fail at all elevations yesterday. Treat all slopes that have not failed as suspect. Keep your route to supported terrain with eyes open for natural or human-triggered avalanches.
The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.Watch for whumpfing, hollow sounds, and shooting cracks.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
Plenty of unconsolidated powder is available for sluffing in steep terrain. The deeper the sluff, the more power it contains to push a person into a terrain trap or over cliffs.
Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.Plan escape routes and identify safe zones before committing to your line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 6th, 2017 8:00AM