Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 23rd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Conrad Janzen,
Parks Canada
Less snow fell than expected on Monday, however higher elevations saw enough new snow and wind to create small fresh wind slabs that could be a concern in steep alpine terrain.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Continued flurries through Tuesday with an additional 2-5 cm's depending on the elevation. Winds will remain in the light to moderate range out of the W with a slight increase in wind speed Tuesday night. Freezing levels should stay at valley bottom.
Snowpack Summary
2-10 cm of snow at upper elevations on Monday. Moderate SW winds in the alpine forming new wind slabs. Previous widespread wind effect in the alpine and treeline. Sun crusts and buried sun crusts on solar aspects. In most areas of the Little Yoho region a deep snowpack exists with few weaknesses, though thin areas still have a weak facetted base.
Avalanche Summary
Several solar triggered small loose avalanches observed in the past several days and some skier triggered surface sluffing in steep terrain up to size 1.5. No new avalanches observed or reported on Monday but observations are limited.
Confidence
Problems
Wind Slabs
New snow and moderate winds have created small fresh wind slabs in lee areas in the alpine. These will be possible to trigger by skiers. Avoid wind loaded areas in steep terrain, especially in narrow gullies.
- Sluffs will be easy to trigger in steep terrain that is sheltered from the wind
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 24th, 2020 4:00PM
