Avalanche forecast

South Rockies

Mar 21 – 22, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–4
    Additional snow and wind Thursday night will keep the storm slab problem relevant on Friday. Lee loaded slopes and spill zones may be particularly touchy. A buried crust may provide an easy sliding surface for deeper avalanches.

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Thursday

Weather Forecast

Synopsis: The pattern over the next five days starts out cool, convective and gusty. It will gradually turn milder, more stable and less windy towards SaturdayFriday: Freezing Level: Valley Bottom. Precip: 3/6mm – 4/15cm Wind: Light, NorthSaturday: Freezing Level: 800m Precip: 3/6mm – 4/15cm  Wind: Moderate, NorthSunday: Freezing Level:  Precip: No significant precip expected.  Wind: Calm

Avalanche Summary

Sensitive conditions were reported from the Fernie area Thursday where storm slabs were sensitive to human triggering to size 1.5.

Snowpack Summary

As of Thursday afternoon storm totals hovered right around the 20 cm mark. Storm slabs will likely continue to be an issue on Friday. Wind-loaded slopes and spill zones (fans where snow accumulates below steep faces) may be particularly touchy. A buried rain crust may provide an easy sliding surface for avalanches. This crust is now down 40 - 70 cm and is supportive to at least 2100 m in most areas as it's up to 9 cm thick. It's thought to be strong enough that snowpack weaknesses below it wont be affected by the load of a person, with the caveat that there may be isolated exceptions (e.g. thin spots near rocks at high elevations). The mid-pack is generally well-settled. Cornices are large and fragile in some areas.

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