Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 30th, 2014 8:09AM

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

Parks Canada dean flick, Parks Canada

Today is a good day to use conservative route selection. Storm slabs are likely to trigger today.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Freezing level 1400m. 70% chance of flurries today, with 5cm snow possible. For Monday a mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries.

Snowpack Summary

Storm snow layers have been slow to bond and remain skier triggerable. An additional 18cm of snow overnight now adds more load to these layers. Southerly wind will have created deep slabs below ridge crests on N through E aspects. Solar aspects have sun crusts buried at various depths. Feb 10 layer is down on average 2m and remains a concern.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose moist avalanches yesterday in the hwy corridor, most size 2.0 and on all aspects. A small cycle out of steep extreme terrain is likely happening now from the overnight storm. These avalanches have the potential to step down to weak layers deeper in the snowpack creating much larger slides, which could run to valley bottoms.

Confidence

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs
The recent storm slabs have been slow to bond and remain in the skier triggerable range. Lee aspects in the alpine and treeline elevations are the more likely areas for a slide to propagate. Low elevations may have possible moist sluffs.
Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.If triggered the storm slabs may step down to deeper layers resulting in large avalanches.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
more reactive on solar aspects.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs
The Mar 2nd crust is down around 1.25m. The slab overtop the weak layers down 1-1.5m continues to settle and become more cohesive. The Feb 10 layer down 2m is a major low probability high consequence concern.
Choose well supported terrain without convexities.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3

Valid until: Mar 31st, 2014 8:00AM