Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 27th, 2019 8:00AM

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

mark herbison, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Be cautious of sluffing or thin wind slabs on steep Southerly terrain and cooler temps with wind exposure on Northerly aspects.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Sunny with periods of cloud for the day with 10-35km/hr Northerly winds. There is a slight temperature inversion with slightly warmer temperatures in the Alpine where the forecasted high will reach -6... in the sun... where there is no wind...Cold temperatures, light winds and clear skies for Friday-Sunday.

Snowpack Summary

10-15cm of settled, faceted snow resides on old wind slabs in the alpine. Northerly winds have deposited thin wind slabs on SE-SW aspects at ridge-top. A crust on steep solar aspects makes for difficult traveling conditions, both uphill and down. The mid and lower snowpack is well settled and strong. Surface faceting is softening old ski tracks.

Avalanche Summary

Several dry loose point releases were noted from South facing alpine ridge-lines yesterday. All were smaller than size one, but had enough mass that they could knock you off your feet if you were in a steep couloir. In the highway corridor, two sz 1.5 dry loose avalanches were noted from MacDonald Gully 4 and 7.

Confidence

Problems

Loose Dry

Loose sluffs in steep terrain can push a person off their feet. South-facing gullies are receiving small, incremental amounts of loose, dry snow from northerly winds.

On steep slopes, pull over periodically or cut into a new line to manage sluffing.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Wind Slabs

Wind slab in the alpine presently appears to be more of a ski quality issue than an avalanche problem. However given the right location (steep, rocky, thin snowpack feature etc.) it may still be possible to trigger the slab.

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Avoid thin, rocky or unsupported slopes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Feb 28th, 2019 8:00AM