Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 1st, 2022 4:00PM

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

Stephen Holeczi,

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New wind slab development will be the main hazard to make decisions about on Wednesday. If winds stay elevated,  sloughing in extreme terrain will also likely occur.

Summary

Weather Forecast

5-10cm is expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Temperatures will remain mild with around 1700-1800m freezing levels. We could see some rain below these elevations. Winds will be moderate, and decrease Wednesday evening. A slow cooling trend will start on Thursday and into the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

15-25cm of recent snow overlays previous surfaces which include wind effected and faceted snow and sun-crusts. The Feb 15 sun-crusts/hard slab interface is down 40-60cm. The Jan 30th surface hoar/sun crust layer is down 50-80 cm and variable in distribution and reactivity, producing moderate sudden planar to no results in snowpack tests.

Avalanche Summary

Some small spindrift avalanches were observed in extreme terrain on a flight to the Balfour Hut Tuesday that were wind driven . No other observations observed or reported.

Confidence

Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New snow, mild temperatures, and moderate to strong SW winds will continue to build new wind slabs on Wednesday. These may be forming over a variety of surfaces including old wind effect, sun crusts and facets.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
  • Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2022 4:00PM