Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 21st, 2016 8:07AM

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

ian gale, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Poor overnight freeze below treeline and strong gusty alpine winds have elevated avalanche hazard today.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries today with precip tapering off by mid morning. Freezing levels are forecasted to reach 1700m today, which thankfully is lower than yesterday but still quite high. Alpine high today of -2 deg & wind should be Southwest 15kph gusting to 40

Snowpack Summary

Poor overnight freeze and new snow to insulate will keep surface snow moist to 2000m. Windslab exists on alpine lee features. Last week's storm snow is well settled with the warm temps & remains unconsolidated on northerly aspects and sits over crusts on solar aspects. The Feb 27 interface is down 70cm and is more sensitive on steep solar aspects.

Avalanche Summary

Over the weekend there was a number of avalanches triggered by cornice fall. Yesterday's warm temps triggered a natural avalanche cycle to sz 2.5, with avalanches leaving moist deposits. Unfortunately freezing levels won't drop enough to significantly improve avalanche hazard below treeline.

Confidence

Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Problems

Wind Slabs

Southwest winds have picked up this morning gusting to 51 kph. This will be actively creating windslab with the 7cm of new snow and promoting rapid cornice growth which could trigger natural cornice fall. Avoid slopes below these overhead hazards

Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices.Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Persistent Slabs

Buried crusts and associated weak layers have created persistent instabilities on solar aspects. Recent storm snow sits on top of crusts 30-50cm down. Feb 27 interface down 80-120cm still producing sudden planar results. Take the time to evaluate.

Be aware of thin areas that may propogate to deeper instabilites.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Loose Wet

Temperatures remained warm overnight not giving the snowpack it's nightly cooling cycle and therefore not regaining it's strength. To add to the problem the 5cm of new snow is acting like a blanket keeping the snowpack warm.

Avoid lingering in runout zones.Watch for terrain traps where small amounts of snow will acumulate into deep deposits.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2016 8:00AM