Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2014 8:00AM

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

catherine brown, Parks Canada

Glacier.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Flurries are forecast today and tonight with around 10 cm. Alpine temperatures will warm to -8 with light southwest ridge top winds. Snow will continue Monday and Tuesday with forecast amounts 15 and 18 cm respectively. Freezing levels will rise to around 1000 m for Mon/Tues.

Snowpack Summary

Light snow today will bury a varied of surfaces, including sun crust, surface facets, small surface hoar and wind deposits. The Jan 28/Feb 10 PWL down 1-1.4m under a cohesive slab, is becoming more difficult to trigger but has high propagation propensity.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were observed yesterday along the highway corridor. Strong solar radiation this past week had produced numerous avalanches up to size 2.5.

Confidence

Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Problems

Persistent Slabs

As this weak layer, buried down around 1 m, gains strength human triggered avalanches are still possible. Areas of concern are open, unsupported slopes, convex terrain and thin snowpack areas.

Be aware of the potential for large, deep avalanches due to the presence of buried surface hoar.Choose conservative lines and watch for clues of instability.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 4

Wind Slabs

Strong winds, including reverse loading from northerly winds have created pockets of wind slab. Feel for these deposits of firm, wind packed snow that will be getting buried by new snow today.

Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2014 8:00AM