Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 18th, 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.
Conrad Janzen,
A little windier Friday night and a little warmer on Saturday is keeping the hazard rating steady. We are keeping danger rating at moderate below treeline due to recent avalanche activity noted in Kootenay Park on Thursday.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Continued flurries for Saturday with a few cm's of accumulation and a mix of sun and cloud through the day. Winds will be in the moderate range out of the SW at ridge crests. Temperatures increase slightly with treeline temperatures ranging from -5 to -3 C and freezing levels reaching 1800 m before falling back down on Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
20-50 cm of recent 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
Explosive control on Whymper and Simpson areas of 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 expect fresh wind slabs in the alpine and some exposed tree-line locations.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow. Avoid wind loaded terrain.
- Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could trigger slabs or larger sluffs.
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 19th, 2022 4:00PM
