Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 30th, 2017–Mar 31st, 2017

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Alpine

3: Considerable

The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable

Treeline

2: Moderate

The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate

Below Treeline

1: Low

The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Jasper.

Cautiously moderate at treeline. Not seeing natural activity but it's critically important to continue to avoid shallow snowpack areas and be aware of the overhead hazards. Wind effect prominent in the alpine.

Weather Forecast

Precip expected to taper off over the evening on Thursday. By Friday morning expect cold temps to start the day near -12 to -15. Broken and clearing skies developing through the day with moderate SW winds and freezing level rising to 1800m.

Snowpack Summary

Creamy and settled surface snow with some wind effect in the open. Near surface non-persistent weaknesses, active on typically problematic features like convexities and immediate lees. March Interfaces melting into the mid-pack with inconsistent mod to hard field test results. All this, sitting on a large, facet layer off the ground.

Avalanche Summary

Field teams reporting cornice failures in the Alpine to 2.5.

Confidence

Avalanche Problems

Cornices

Large cornices on ridge top lee features. Their sheer mass is a problem. Recent cornice failures have been generally small (a few tons or so;) but are consistently triggering large deep persistent slab avalanches in alpine terrain.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.Pay attention to overhead hazards like cornices which could easily trigger the deep persistent slab.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 3

Deep Persistent Slabs

The deep persistent slab can be triggered by travelers from shallow or weak locations or naturally from large loads such as cornice failure or windslab avalanches.

Avoid paths that have not avalanched recently.Avoid shallow snowpack areas where triggering is more likely.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible - Likely

Expected Size: 2 - 4

Loose Wet

No expectations for activity first thing in the morning but, as the day progresses expect to see snowballing, and loose slides on solar aspects at TL and below.

Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes.Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2