Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 20th, 2016 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Persistent Slabs and Cornices.
aaron beardmore,
Avalanche Canada
Although conditions appear to be improving, forecasters still have low confidence in the snowpack due to large avalanches as recent as Friday. Think critically about your terrain choices.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Freezing levels are expected to hover at 1900m on Monday. Light precipitation is also expected (~7cm). Wind will be light to moderate from the W-SW.
Snowpack Summary
Solar crusts on 40-60cm of snow overlies a well settled mid and lower pack. Observations are limited but we suspect there are buried sun crusts on steep E through W aspects with 60-100cm above (similar to Banff region). Isolated thin snowpack areas have weaker facet layers, but this is not a widespread snowpack characteristic of the region.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
With 1750m freezing levels there is a chance that loose wet avalanches will occur below treeline on Monday.
- Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Now that the sun is higher in the sky, buried crusts becomes more of a problem. Presently there are several crusts buried on S through E and W aspects, with 50-100 cm overlying them. We do not have many observations of this currently.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
There are large cornices at this point in the season. With warming expected, do not expose yourself to this hazard or the avalanches they may trigger.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 21st, 2016 4:00PM
