Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 21st, 2021 4:00PM

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

Tereza Turecka,

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Alpine and tree line have turned back to winter land with great turns to be had.Recently formed wind slabs are of most concern, particularly where sun crust from the last few days is present.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Monday: Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Accumulation: 4 cm. Alpine temperature: High -7 °C. Ridge wind northwest: 10-25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.Tuesday: Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.Trace. Alpine temperature:  High -8 °C. Ridge wind west: 15 km/h gusting to 40 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 20cm new from convective flurries over past couple days redistributed by SW winds TL/ALP, overlies a variety of sun crusts and moist snow on solar aspects up to ALP. The overall snowpack is variable at TL and above with a supportive strong 1F to P midpack in the deeper areas to a weak facetted midpack in shallow areas.

Avalanche Summary

Patrol in the Icefields area observed couple sz 1 wind slab avalanches in ALP wind loaded features. There have been reports of sporadic large avalanches in isolated ALP features in the last couple weeks believed to be triggered by large cornice load.

Confidence

Problems

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

More activity noted at this layer, mostly initiated by large loads (cornices) in steep terrain.

  • Consider that avalanches may run further than expected as they entrain this loose surface snow.
  • Watch for moist surface snow over crust on steeper solar aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Recently formed wind slabs in immediate lees, suspected to increase in reactivity with added solar input especially in areas where they overlie sun crust.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2021 4:00PM

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