Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 13th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Strong wind will likely build reactive wind slabs.
Rider and remote triggering of large avalanches are an ongoing concern. Choose conservative, low consequence terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, a few natural wind slabs on north facing slopes and persistent slabs on south facing slopes up to size 1.5 were reported. Numerous explosive controlled persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 were triggered on northerly aspects at treeline and above.
We expect wind and persistent slabs to be rider triggerable. Avoid solar slopes when the sun is out.
Snowpack Summary
A melt-freeze crust may exist on the surface up to 1400 m and higher on steep south facing slopes.
At treeline and above, the recent storm snow is being redistributed by ongoing southerly winds, leaving widespread wind-affected surfaces in exposed terrain and wind slabs on leeward terrain.
A thick and hard widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 50 to 110 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it in many areas.
The eastern portion of this region is much shallower with a highly variable and wind-affected snowpack.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with isolated flurries 5-10 cm. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5°C. Freezing levels 1200 m.
Thursday
Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries 5-10 cm. 20 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near -1°C. Freezing level rising to 1800 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud. 40 to 60 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures near above zero degrees. Freezing level rising to 2500 m.
Saturday
Sunny. 15 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperatures above zero degrees. Freezing level rising to 3000 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Choose conservative terrain and watch for clues of instability.
- If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Be aware of the potential for surprisingly large avalanches due to deeply buried weak layers.
- Remote triggering is a concern, watch out for adjacent and overhead slopes.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Ongoing snowfall and southerly wind have formed wind slab on northerly aspects and cross loaded others.
These avalanches have the potential to step down to deeper layers if triggered.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets rests above a hard-melt freeze crust that formed early February. This layer remains in the depth for human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 14th, 2024 4:00PM
