Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2021 8:16AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
ross campbell,
Spring is in the air, with warm temperatures and high freezing levels. Avoid solar aspects this afternoon; paths like frequent flyer are likely to avalanche today.
Wind slabs are still lurking, and can have serious consequences in the wrong terrain!
Summary
Weather Forecast
It's going to be a hot sunny day for Rogers Pass! The freezing level is forecast to rise to 2200m, with clear skies and no precip. The only cooling weather factor today might be the wind, as its forecasted to be 20km/h, gusting to 50km/h. Clear tonight, Fl dropping to 1300m, and winds gusting to 60km/h. Friday will be warm too, but with flurries.
Snowpack Summary
Recent strong to extreme winds left behind a variety of wind slabs in the Alpine and exposed areas of TL. The surface snow turned moist yesterday at lower elev on all asp, and higher on solar asp. Strong solar input today will destabilize the upper snowpack again. The February facet layer is buried 80cm to 1+m, depending on asp & elev.
Avalanche Summary
A significant skier accidental size 3 wind slab occurred yesterday in the Grizzly Couloir, click here for details. Another skier accidental size 1.5 occurred on Mcgill Shoulder yesterday; below tree line on a west asp, click here for more details. In the HWY corridor, Lens path went size 3, starting in extreme terrain on a solar asp.
Confidence
Problems
Loose Wet
Strong solar radiation and high freezing levels will initiate a wet loose avalanche cycle today. This will occur primarily on steep solar aspects; however, we'll still see activity on shaded aspects at lower elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Previous extreme winds have left behind variable wind slabs in the Alpine and exposed areas of Treeline. A skier accidental size 3 wind slab occurred yesterday in the Grizzly Couloir, triggered by the 4th skier in the group. Click here for details.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.
- Watch for shooting cracks or stiffer feeling snow. Avoid areas that appear wind loaded.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2021 8:00AM
