Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 28th, 2017 8:00AM

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

dean flick, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Watch for transitions in the snow and stay aware of changes in the weather. Snow and wind can quickly form touchy windslabs. Mild temperatures will stiffen the snow into a slab and weaken bonds over crusts, causing a higher chance of wide propagation

Summary

Weather Forecast

Today, moderate SW winds accompanied by moderate snowfall will be loading lee slopes and forming windslabs in exposed treeline and alpine areas. Temperatures below treeline will be mild and new snow overlying Sunday's newly formed crust may have a poor bond. 30 cm of new snow is forecast by Thursday morning. Expect unsettled weather until Friday.

Snowpack Summary

Spring crusts are stacking up: March 27 CR down 10cm, March 19 CR down 35cm, March 16 CR down 60cm. These layers are potential sliding surfaces as loose wet or moist slab avalanches. Windslabs on lee slopes will be a major concern today, watch for cracking/shearing. PWL's are Feb 19 CR down 150cm, Nov facets/crust are at the base of the snowpack

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday, several loose moist avalanches to size 1.5 - 2.0 were observed later in the afternoon on Avalanche Crest. Activity is expected to pick up with last nights 5-10cm of new snow adding to 30cm of storm snow and forecast moderate to strong south winds. Expect loose dry, and lee slope windslabs avalanching out of steep alpine terrain.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

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

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Warming temperatures can cause new snow over crusts to quickly become touchy and slide easily as loose wet or moist slab avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Cornices

Cornices are very large right now and can fail unpredictably - if this happens persistent weak layers deep in the snowpack can be triggered, resulting in very large avalanches.

Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: North, North East, East.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Valid until: Mar 29th, 2017 8:00AM