Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2018 4:26PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

Purcells.

Some snow and cooler temperatures in the forecast. But not enough inputs to impact the danger rating in the short term.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

THURSDAY: Flurries, accumulation 5-10cm / Light west wind / Alpine temperature 1 / Freezing level 1700m FRIDAY: Scattered flurries / Light northwest wind / Alpine temperature 0 / Freezing level 1700m SATURDAY: Scattered flurries / Light west wind / Alpine temperature -1 / Freezing level 1600m

Avalanche Summary

Numerous wet loose avalanches were observed in the region to size 2.5 over the past four days on sunny aspects. On Sunday we received reports of a skier caught in a size 2.5 avalanche in the north of the region. The slab was 20-50 cm thick and started on a steep north east aspect immediately below ridge crest at 2300m. See the MIN post for more details.

Snowpack Summary

Recent sun and warm temperatures have resulted in moist or wet snow on sunny aspects then freezing to form a crust overnight. Generally high elevation northerly aspects still have dry snow.A couple of layers buried in mid-late February (down around 40-100 cm) have shown limited reactivity of late. Persistent slabs have been triggered on shady aspects, where surface hoar and/or facets exist. Deeper persistent weak layers from January and December are generally considered dormant, but could wake up with a surface avalanche stepping down, cornice fall, or a human trigger in a shallow or variable-depth snowpack area. These layers consist of sun crust, surface hoar and/or facets. Facets also linger at the base of the snowpack.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Snow and wind from last week have formed variable wind slabs. In places these slabs may be sitting on a layer of small surface hoar.

Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Watch for wind loaded pockets near ridge crests and roll overs.Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2018 2:00PM