Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 17th, 2022 4:00PM

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

Jeffrey Mitchell,

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Be cautious of Wind Slabs in the Alpine and Tree Line elevations on the leeward slopes. Some great skiing to be had in protected areas!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Friday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries.

Precipitation: Trace.

Alpine temperature: High -5 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h.

Freezing level: 1500 metres.

Saturday

Cloudy with scattered flurries.

Accumulation: 4 cm.

Alpine temperature: Low -7 C, High -4 C.

Ridge wind southwest: 15-35 km/h.

Freezing level: 1700 metres.

Snowpack Summary

Parkers Ridge received up to 35cm of snow over the past 5 days which buried a variety of surfaces including wind scoured surfaces and hard slabs. The new snow has formed a wind slab in the Alp and TL. Feb 13 interface down 20-50, present as Melt Freeze crust on solar aspects or DF interface on polar aspects with profiles show resistant reactivity.

Avalanche Summary

Tuesdays avalanche control highway 93 south produced up to size 1.5 wind slab averaging 30cm deep. A few size 1.5 dry loose observed in steep alpine terrain. Ski cut on an steep, unsupported feature in the Maligne range produced a size 2 on a hard wind slab.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Sculpted terrain features widespread in the Alpine and Tree Line. Wind slabs have been reactive to ski cuts in some locations.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

With up to 35cm of new snow, loose new snow could be an issue for ice climbers in tight gullies or steep cliffs above.

  • Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 18th, 2022 4:00PM

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