Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 3rd, 2019 4:12PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

South Rockies.

Cold dry conditions continue. Watch for signs of instability as you travel, such as whumpfing, cracking, and recent avalanches.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear, light northeast wind, alpine temperatures drop to -22 C.MONDAY: Sunny, light northeast wind, alpine high temperatures near -13 C.TUESDAY: Sunny with cloudy periods, light northeast wind, alpine high temperatures near -10 C.WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with isolated flurries, light southeast wind with moderate gusts, alpine high temperatures near -10 C.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported on Sunday. On Saturday and Friday, a few small wind slab avalanches (size 1) were triggered by skiers and some small natural wind slabs were observed.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of recent snow with moderate winds has likely formed wind slabs in exposed terrain. Older wind slabs will be buried under the new snow and may be difficult to detect. Cold temperatures have been transforming most of the snowpack into soft faceted snow. In thicker snowpack areas, you may find a slab sitting above a weak layer of facets and surface hoar that was buried in mid-January and is now 30-60 cm deep. This layer is most prominent in the Elk Valley between 1600 m and 1900 m. Snowpack tests and avalanche reports on this layer suggest that human triggering is still a lingering concern.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent snow has formed wind slabs that may be reactive to human triggering at upper elevations.

Watch for areas of hard wind slab in steep features.Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.If triggered, wind slabs may scour down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

In deeper snowpack areas, a surface hoar layer buried 30-60 cm deep may still be reactive. It is most prominent between 1600 and 1900 m.

Be aware of the potential for wide propagation.Use added caution in open terrain features such as cutblocks, gullies and cutbanks.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

2 - 2.5

Valid until: Mar 4th, 2019 2:00PM