Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2017 7:56AM

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

Parks Canada chris gooliaff, Parks Canada

A natural avalanche cycle is underway in Rogers Pass. Avoid overhead hazard and be very conservative with your route choices today.

Summary

Weather Forecast

The main storm pulse has passed through the area. Today will be mainly cloudy with some sunny breaks, freezing levels remain below 800m, and moderate winds from the SW. Tonight and tomorrow expect flurries with up to 5-10cm of new snow, freezing levels will hover around 1000m, and winds will be moderate from the SW.

Snowpack Summary

Another 25cm arrived last night, bringing the storm total to 65cm. Strong/extreme southerly winds have loaded lee features and formed widespread storm slabs. The Feb 14 crust is buried 80-100cm deep. On N aspects above 1600m, the Feb 14 layer is surface hoar.

Avalanche Summary

A natural avalanche cycle was in full-swing last night, with numerous storm slab avalanches to size 3-3.5 ripping out of Mt Tupper, Mt Macdonald, Cheops, and adjacent to NRC Gully. Avalanches were running to the end of their paths, depositing branches and dust on the highway.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
Over 65cm of new snow in the past 3 days has been combined with strong southerly winds to create widespread and touchy storm slabs. These slabs may step down and trigger deeper instabilities.
Avoid avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow and wind.Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely - Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 4

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry
Loose natural and skier triggered sluffs are almost certain today as snow and wind hammer Rogers Pass. The size, power and hazard posed by these slides depends directly on terrain characteristics like slope angle, terrain traps, and run out hazards.
Plan escape routes and identify safe zones before committing to your line.Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Very Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2017 8:00AM