Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2017 8:00AM

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

Parks Canada andrew jones, Parks Canada

Active weather means increasing avalanche hazard. Careful snowpack evaluation is required before committing to your line.

Summary

Weather Forecast

A SW flow brings precipitation and rising freezing levels to Rogers Pass.  Cloudy with scattered flurries and up to 4cm today and 7cm tonight. Freezing levels rise to 1300m this afternoon with ridge winds gusting to 65km/h from the SW.  The bulk of this weekend's precipitation arrives on Friday (15cm) but light snow will continue into next week.

Snowpack Summary

Another 4cm overnight brings the 48hr total to 20cm of new snow at treeline. Strong southerly winds have contributed to loading of lee features and the formation of isolated soft slabs.  The Feb 14 layer, down ~50cm, is a crust everywhere but N aspects above 1600m where pockets of surface hoar may lurk. 

Avalanche Summary

Several natural wind slab avalanches ranging from size 1.5-2.5 were observed in in steep terrain facing the highway corridor east of Rogers Pass.  A suspected cornice fall triggered a size 2.5 avalanche on Mt Green, west of Rogers Pass.  We received a report of a skier accidental size 1, triggered in a wind slab on Puff Daddy.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
New snow and continued wind-transport have created storm slabs. In isolate locations, the storm snow conceals existing wind slabs. Ongoing precipitation and wind activity could enable these slabs to step down and trigger deeper instabilities.
Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking. Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2017 8:00AM