Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 10th, 2015 8:25AM

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

Peter, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Slightly cooler and cloudier conditions are expected. We shouldn't see much precipitation, but if we do then danger could be higher.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Check out the weather tab above for the detailed synopsis.Wednesday: Mainly cloudy with a slight chance of showers or flurries. The freezing level starts near 3000 m and should lower to 2200 m by the end of the day. Winds are moderate to strong from the SW. Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud. The freezing level is steady around 2200 m and winds are moderate from the SW. Friday: Mainly sunny. The freezing level spikes to 3000 m and winds are light.

Avalanche Summary

On Sunday, a skier-triggered slab released on a weak layer near the ground in Kananaskis Country. Otherwise there has been no new avalanche activity reported from the region.

Snowpack Summary

The snow surface consists of wind-affected snow or wind-scoured crusts in exposed alpine areas, moist snow or sun crust on sun-exposed slopes, or 5-10cm of dry snow overlying an old crust in shady and sheltered areas. At higher elevations, recent winds may have built thin wind slabs in leeward features. Lower elevations are undergoing daily springtime melt-freeze cycles. The most prominent snowpack feature is a thick supportive crust 10-30cm below the surface. It extends up to around 2200m elevation. Below this elevation the crust is effectively capping the snowpack, preventing riders from stressing deeper persistent weak layers. In alpine areas where the crust is not present or is less thick, dormant persistent weak layers may still be lingering and could wake-up with heavy loading or strong warming.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Although there's probably not much loose snow to blow around, watch for older, hard wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. These could remain sensitive to triggering in isolated areas, particularly on warm sunny afternoons.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Both loose wet sluffs and cornice falls are a concern while the weather remains sunny and warm.

Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.>Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deeper weaknesses still exist and remain a concern in shallow rocky areas or anywhere the thick near-surface crust is weakening or non-existent, specially north aspects above 2200m.

Be aware of thin areas and rock outcroppings where it may be possible to initiate an avalanche that fails on one of the deeply buried weak layers.>

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

3 - 6

Valid until: Mar 11th, 2015 2:00PM