Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
William Lawson,
New snow and strong winds are expected to develop new wind slabs at upper elevation.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Increased snow fall Saturday night with accumulation amounts of 5-10cm by Sunday morning. Slightly cooler temps and clearing are forecasted for Sunday, this clearing trend will bring strong Westerly ridge winds.
Snowpack Summary
20-50 cm of storm snow forming fresh wind slabs in alpine and some treeline terrain with mod-strong SW winds. On solar aspects a variety of buried sun-crusts down 30-60 cm are producing moderate results in tests. In addition there is a buried temperature crust at lower elevations that exists on all aspects, and has been reactive in Kootenay Park.
Avalanche Summary
No new activity obs Saturday. Explosive control in Kootenay Park on Thursday produced small wind-slabs up to size 2.5. Of note in Simpson area is when debris hit lower elevations (1800-1600 m) it triggered new slabs down 50 cm on a suspected temperature crust. Propagations on this layer were significant and extended up to 100 m.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Winds have been variable throughout the region, but are expected to increase Sunday. Look for fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some exposed tree-line locations.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs or larger sluffs.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Buried crust/facet layers exist in the upper snowpack on solar aspects and all aspects below 1700m. Recent tests show moderate sudden planar results. Exercise caution in areas where these crusts exist, there is uncertainty about how they will react.
- Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2022 4:00PM
