Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 21st, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
MM,
Avalanche Canada
Human triggered avalanches are still possible and if the sun comes out, watch out for natural activity.
Recent amounts of new snow (and rain down low) did not improve the challenging travel and variable spring conditions that are present through out the park.
Expect conditions to vary greatly with elevation and aspect.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Avalanche activity has decreased with cooler temperatures and cloud cover.
A widespread natural cycle of size 3-3.5 avalanches occurred Fri through Tues. These wet avalanches failed within the moist upper snowpack and stepping down to the persistent weak layer (over 1m deep).
A field team investigated a natural, size 3 avalanche that occurred on Mar 18th, on a N aspect at tree-line. The failure plane was down ~120 cm on the Feb 3rd persistent weak layer.
Snowpack Summary
New snow buried a crust found on most aspects and elevations, except treeline and above on polar slopes. Rain created a crust below treeline, which will freeze & thaw with diurnal temperature fluctuations.
A weak layer formed on March 8 is down 40-50 cm. It has been preserved on N aspects at treeline and above.
The Feb 03 crust is down 80-140 cm. A weak layer of loose snow sits above it. This is a significant persistent weak layer and will be a concern for the foreseeable future.
Weather Summary
A clash of weather systems over the province will bring cooling temperatures and light snow into Friday.
Tonight: Clear, Alp Low: -9, Light E winds, Freezing level (fz): Valley Bottom
Fri: Mix of sun & cloud, Alp High: -5, Light E winds, fz level: 1500 m
Sat: Cloudy, isolated flurries, Alp High: -5, Light E winds. Fz level 1600m
Sun: Cloudy/sunny periods, Alp High: -9, Light E winds, fz level 900m
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Keep in mind the crust offers an excellent bed surface for avalanches.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Use caution in terrain where a widespread crust is present beneath the new snow and on slopes that the wind has loaded.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The Feb 3rd crust/facet complex is down 80-140cm and has been the main sliding layer for the most recent large avalanches. As temperatures gradually drop, this layer will become harder to trigger, but should remain as a concern in your decision making.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2024 4:00PM
