Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Feb 22nd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Tim Haggarty,
Parks Canada
Continued inputs with small amounts of snow and wind through the weekend leading to further wind slab development.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Strong alpine winds Saturday found morning are forecast to decrease becoming light from the SW by the evening as a low clears the region.
Increasing clouds with light snowfall (4-10 cm)expected Sunday afternoon as a second low approaches from the SW and winds again increase to strong in the alpine.
Snowpack Summary
Continued snow transport and cornice growth with winds affecting treeline ridge crests today. 5-10 cm of new snow now burying sun crusts isolated to steep solar facing terrain. Weak, facetted snow near the base of the snowpack persists in much of the range, producing isolated but large avalanches.
Avalanche Summary
A few windslabs in the alpine up to sz 2 were reported on Friday. On Thursday wind slabs were observed up to size 1.5 today along the Icefields Parkway in loaded pockets in the alpine.
A size 2.5 skier remote was reported Wednesday on the scramblers route of Cascade Mountain on a steep SW slope in the alpine, no involvement.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
Consistent moderate winds, gusting to extreme from the SW have formed slab in the alpine and wind effect can be expected at treeline. Cornices have grown very large in recent weeks, so watch your exposure to them carefully.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Feb 23rd, 2020 4:00PM
