Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 11th, 2017 8:06AM

The alpine rating is high, the treeline rating is considerable, and the below treeline rating is considerable. Known problems include Storm Slabs and Persistent Slabs.

ian gale, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Recent snowfall and rising temps will keep the hazard elevated over the next couple of days. Now is the time for conservative terrain choices!

Summary

Weather Forecast

Snowfall eases during the day today with 5 cms expected and freezing level rising to 1800m. Alpine highs of -3 are forecast with wind gusting to 40km/h from the south. More snow is on the way as a series of storms will bring precip and steadily increasing freezing levels into the middle of next week.

Snowpack Summary

Steady snowfall this week (plus another 15cm last night!) pushes our March total easily over 1m of new snow @ 1900m. The late Feb crusts are buried 50-100cm deep on solar aspects depending on elevation. A mixed form layer lies under the storm snow on north and east asps. The Nov Cr remains dormant while the midpack is gaining strength and rounding.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle to sz 4 on the highway corridor. These naturals were running full path & were triggered by rapid loading from heavy snowfall, avalanche activity will continue today. Friday there was a MCR & MIN post of sz 1 slab avalanches in the Connaught slide path & Little Sifton failing on the Feb Cr

Confidence

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

Problems

Storm Slabs

Steady snowfall this week (+15cm of new snow again last night) and warming temps today have produced a touchy storm. Yesterday this storm slab was able to step down to deeper layers and ran full path.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger deep slabs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Buried crusts on South and West aspects are hidden under the march snow. Skiers were able to trigger slab avalanches on this layer earlier in the week. Take time to assess the how the snow is bonding when moving onto solar aspects

Avoid unsupported slopes.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

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

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 12th, 2017 9:00AM