Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 2nd, 2017 4:16PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs.
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Avalanche Canada
Storm and wind slab avalanches will become more likely and larger with continued strong winds, snow and warming temperatures.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
FRIDAY: Snow flurries with another 5-10cm of accumulation. Moderate SW winds. Temperatures starting to cool with freezing level lowering to around 900m.SATURDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing another 5cm. Light southerly winds and freezing levels dropping to 700 m.SUNDAY: Cloudy with scattered flurries bringing another 5cm. Light southerly winds and freezing levels dropping to 500 m.
Avalanche Summary
Reports from Wednesday include several skier and explosives triggered storm slab avalanches up to Size 1.5 and natural soft wind slab avalanche up to Size 2. Of note was one remotely triggered Size 1.5 30cm thick wind slab avalanche from a skier 7m away that ran on facets overlying a crust that formed mid-February.
Snowpack Summary
20-50 low density fresh snow is bonding poorly to previously wind-affected surfaces (e.g. scoured crust, hard sastrugi, or stubborn wind slabs) in exposed areas, or around 20 cm of faceted snow in sheltered areas. Strong southerly winds have scoured wind-exposed slopes and deposited deep drifts on lee aspects. A crust from mid-February is below all this, down around 50-70cm. Recent snowpack tests have been giving moderate sudden results in facets above this crust. The mid and lower snowpack are well settled and strong.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Touchy storm slabs will form with continued snowfall and warming temperatures, and expected to be especially deep and touchy on wind loaded slopes.
Storm snow is forming touchy slabs. Use caution in lee areas in the alpine and treeline.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2017 2:00PM
