Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2015 8:36AM

The alpine rating is considerable, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

jlammers, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

New wind slabs have formed over a variety of weak surfaces, and will likely remain sensitive to human triggering.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Mainly overcast skies, strong southwest winds and very light snowfall are expected on Saturday. On Sunday and Monday a Pacific low will make landfall bringing light to moderate snowfall (up to 15cm) with the highest accumulations forecast for the south of the region. Winds with the snowfall should be strong to extreme from the southwest. Freezing levels should hover around 1000m on Saturday, spiking briefly at 1500m on Sunday, and then falling back to about 1000m on Monday

Avalanche Summary

At the time of writing, no avalanches have been reported from Thursday, but there may have been some avalanche activity in response to recent snow and wind-loading.

Snowpack Summary

New snow and strong SW winds have likely built reactive wind slabs in exposed lee terrain. These overlie a variety of interfaces including older wind slabs, a sun crust, an old rain crust, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Keep an eye out for cornices that could fail.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Light to moderate snow accumulations and strong southwest winds have built reactive new wind slabs in lee terrain. Watch for triggering in the lee of ridges and terrain breaks.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2015 2:00PM