Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2016 8:11AM

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

ian gale, Parks Canada

Glacier.

More snow, wind and rising freezing levels will keep the hazard elevated. Use caution approaching wind effected terrain and avoid cornices overhead

Summary

Weather Forecast

Today should be a break between storms that have been bringing precip to Rogers Pass. The good news is more snow by the weekend but the bad news is that the freezing level is going to be steadily rising after each pulse of moisture. Skies will be cloudy today with flurries. Frz lvl will be at 1500m, alpine highs of -4 deg & SW ridge winds 25-35kph

Snowpack Summary

15cm of new snow with mod winds have created soft slab burying old the previous windslab in alpine. This brings our storm snow to 40cm on the Feb 27 layer which is a variable crust on SE-W asps & widespread surface hoar/stellars on shaded aspects. On a S asp field crews experienced whumfs from this layer on Monday.

Avalanche Summary

Yesterday natural avalanche activity tapered off with minimal precip and little solar input. The windslab in the alpine remains touchy and was triggered yesterday by a group on Puff Daddy 30cm deep and 30m wide running 10m to a natural bench.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow overnight with mod winds have created soft windslabs on alpine features. If it were to step down this slab has the potential to run far on a supportive crust or if the Feb 27 SH gets involved. Cornices are ripe aswell, give them wide berth

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

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

40cm of storm snow sits on a strong crust and surface hoar which is poorly bonded in some locations. Field teams experienced whumphing on this layer yesterday. This low density slab has potential to gain alot of mass with a crust as the bed surface

Use caution above cliffs where small avalanches may have severe consequences.Use caution on open slopes and convex rolls