Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 25th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
MW,
Avalanche Canada
Strong - extreme winds and a wee bit of new snow will keep the avalanche hazard elevated Sunday and Monday.
A widespread avalanche cycle along the Icefields Parkway on Tuesday and Wednesday is evidence that the deep persistent problem remains a concern. Natural avalanches have recently stepped down to this layer, and many have been travelling well into below tree line run out zones.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new observations today due to limited visibility. Evidence of a widespread avalanche cycle on all aspects in the alpine was observed on Thursday. Mostly size 2-3 and up to size 4. Many of these avalanches started as wind slabs and stepped down to the deep persistent facet layer. Most notably the main Buck Lake slide path and the Churchill South slide path ran into the ski lines.
This recent cycle is evidence that we are at or near the tipping point for the deep persistent layer.
Don't forget to post avalanche observations to the MIN.
Snowpack Summary
Recent cold temperatures have faceted the upper snowpack allowing strong- extreme winds to redistribute recent snow. Ridgetop has been scoured in most locations with pockets of wind slab lingering in the alpine and at treeline.
In sheltered locations, 40 cm of settled snow sits on top of a generally weak mid and lower snowpack with facets and depth hoar at the base. The height of snow is variable from 60 to 160cm.
Weather Summary
Sunday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: High -10 °C.
Ridge wind southwest: 20 km/h gusting to 45 km/h.
Monday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -17 °C, High -14 °C.
Mostly light ridge wind occasionally gusting to 35 km/h.
Tuesday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -23 °C, High -14 °C.
Ridge wind east: 10-20 km/h.
Detailed weather forecasts from Avalanche Canada: https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong winds from the SW with some new snow will quickly form more wind slabs in open areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The bottom of the snow pack is inherently weak with well developed Facets and Depth Hoar. Natural avalanches continue to step down to this layer, and many have been travelling well into below tree line run out zones.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 26th, 2023 4:00PM
