Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Feb 29th, 2020 4:00PM

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

Parks Canada mark herbison, Parks Canada

Sustained winds along with new snow will keep the alpine hazard elevated. Limit your exposure to overhead hazards like cornices.

Great skiing in sheltered areas

Summary

Weather Forecast

Mainly cloudy on Sunday with isolated flurries, West winds gusting up to 60 km/hr and an alpine high of -12. Continued strong winds on Monday into Tuesday with small amounts of snow forecasted.

Snowpack Summary

10-20 cm of new snow with moderate SW winds forming new wind slab in the alpine down to tree line. Watch for buried sun crust on steep solar aspects. The Feb 1 rain crust is down 30-60 cm and present below 1900 m.  Generally this area has a strong snowpack, with snow depths over 300 cm in the alpine.

Avalanche Summary

Large cornice failures reported on Friday from the Crowfoot Glacier area, some of which pulled pockets of wind slab on the slopes below.

Suspect some natural avalanche activity on Saturday with recent snow and wind inputs, but no new observations due to poor visibility.

Confidence

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

New wind slab development in the alpine and exposed areas at tree line. Expect these to be reactive to human triggering in the immediate lee of terrain features and in steep gullies.

  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
  • Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 1st, 2020 4:00PM