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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 1st, 2021–Mar 2nd, 2021
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Banff Yoho Kootenay.

We have raised the BTL rating to Moderate, mostly for the Kootenay region where a number of close calls have occurred in the past few days. This one looks serious. The pattern is: South aspect, TL & BTL,, buried crust and facets with an 80 cm slab.

Weather Forecast

The westerly flow continues and will bring another 5 cm on Monday night with clearing by mid-day Tuesday. Expect the alpine winds to remain strong out of the west, also calming down on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday and Thursday look beautiful; blue sky and warm.  Watch out for the sun's effects to the snowpack on Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Strong SW winds for the past 36-hours has blown the recent storm snow into windslabs in alpine lee areas and exposed tree line slopes. In Kootenay and around Lake Louise we are tracking a persistent layer of suncrust and facets down 30-60 cm that is producing avalanches and test results. Heads up, this layer is isolated but reacts to skiers.

Avalanche Summary

Two close calls in the Simpson area of Kootenay Park in the past 48-hours. South aspect at treeline and below treeline in the burnt forest is the pattern. With the huge increase in skier traffic in this area, do not lose sight of the fact that this is TIGER COUNTRY. Big slopes, steep runs, and common to get avalanches on buried crusts in March.

Confidence

Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Wednesday

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

36-hours of moderate to strong winds from the SW have blown the recent storm snow into windslabs in open areas. These could be quite deep in immediate lee areas. Check this on small slopes with no consequence and extrapolate to the bigger terrain.

  • Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created slabs over weaker snow.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

Two weak facet interfaces exist in the top meter of the snowpack. On south aspects this problem could be associated with a sun crust. These layers are present in many areas, but we have uncertainty on where they will be reactive.

  • Dig down to find and test weak layers before committing to a line.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3