Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 15th, 2022 4:33PM

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

jeff andrews,

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35cm new snow over the past 4 days in the Icefields area - less further north. Increasing and sustained westerly winds in the forecast - wind slab problem expected to increase in size and consequence in the short term.

Summary

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Sunny periods; isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Alpine High -7 C. Wind west 20 gust to 45 km/h. Freezing level (FL) 1400m

Thursday: Mainly cloudy; isolated flurries. Trace precipitation. Alpine Low -10 C; High -6 C. Wind SW 20 gust 55km/h. FL 1500m

Friday: Sunny periods; isolated flurries. Trace. Alpine Low -10 C; High -7 C.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 35 cm of new snow since Friday in the Icefields area siting atop a well settled midpack. Less snow further north. A temperature crust down 20-50cm is decomposing and generally below 2300m on steep solar aspects. A facet and depth hoar layer is at the bottom of the snowpack.

Avalanche Summary

Avalanche control highway 93 south produced up to size 1.5 wind slab averaging 30cm deep. A few size 1.5 dry loose observed in steep alpine terrain. Ski cut on an unsupported feature Maligne range produced a size 1.5 wind slab.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Westerly winds are loading and crossloading lee terrain features Alpine and Treeline. Plenty of new snow available for transport, especially in the Icefields area.

  • Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Dry

An icon showing Loose Dry

With up to 35cm of new snow, loose new snow could be an issue for ice climbers in tight gullies or steep cliffs above.

  • Be careful of loose dry power sluffing in steep terrain.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 16th, 2022 4:00PM