Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2017 4:22PM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Loose Dry, Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada conrad janzen, Avalanche Canada

Lots of new snow loading and a lot of natural avalanche activity on Saturday. Avalanche activity will taper off on Sunday but avoid any overhead hazard and stick to moderate terrain until things quiet down.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Precipitation will taper off on Saturday night but flurries will continue through Sunday with another 5cm expected to fall. Winds should become light to moderate out of the SW and temperatures are forecast to stay below freezing and relatively steady until Monday.

Snowpack Summary

20-40cm of new has fallen with Moderate to Strong SW winds. Lots of wind slabs are present above treeline with new cornice development. This large load of new snow sits on a supportive mid-pack in most areas, but thinner spots still have weak facets and depth hoar near the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Poor visibility on Saturday, but natural, skier and explosive triggered avalanches were observed up to size 2.5 on all aspects running far down the paths. Ski cutting of wind loaded slopes produced avalanches and lots of sluffing in steep gullies was observed. Lots of whumphing in thin areas today!

Confidence

Due to the number of field observations

Problems

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

Gusty Southwest winds have been moving the new snow around and sluffing in steep gullies was observed on Saturday. Use caution in confined gullies or above terrain traps.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

20-40cm of new snow with moderate to strong winds have formed new winds slabs above treeline and rapid cornice development. Human triggering will be likely for the next day or two.

  • If triggered the wind slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.
  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

Be conservative with your terrain choices, especially when entering larger, steeper features. Dig down to see if the January surface hoar or the December facets are present and take appropriate precautions if they are.

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2017 4:00PM