Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 1st, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Stephen Holeczi,
New wind slab development will be the main hazard to make decisions about on Wednesday. If winds stay elevated, sloughing in extreme terrain will also likely occur.
Summary
Weather Forecast
5-10cm is expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. Temperatures will remain mild with around 1700-1800m freezing levels. We could see some rain below these elevations. Winds will be moderate, and decrease Wednesday evening. A slow cooling trend will start on Thursday and into the weekend.
Snowpack Summary
15-25cm of recent snow overlays previous surfaces which include wind effected and faceted snow and sun-crusts. The Feb 15 sun-crusts/hard slab interface is down 40-60cm. The Jan 30th surface hoar/sun crust layer is down 50-80 cm and variable in distribution and reactivity, producing moderate sudden planar to no results in snowpack tests.
Avalanche Summary
Some small spindrift avalanches were observed in extreme terrain on a flight to the Balfour Hut Tuesday that were wind driven . No other observations observed or reported.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow, mild temperatures, and moderate to strong SW winds will continue to build new wind slabs on Wednesday. These may be forming over a variety of surfaces including old wind effect, sun crusts and facets.
- Watch for surface cracking and stiffer surface layers of snow.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 2nd, 2022 4:00PM
