Avalanche forecast

Northwest Coastal

Mar 27 – 28, 2013Avalanche Canada
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–4
    Watch for wind slabs behind ridges and ribs and in cross-loaded gullies. Cornices are also large and untrustworthy, especially on hot days.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–7
    While the likelihood of triggering is slowly dropping, the March 9th layer can be triggered from a distance, propagate across large distances and create surprisingly large avalanches.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Expect loose wet sluffs to trigger in the afternoon when the sun is at its strongest.

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Expect few clouds with light westerly winds and alpine temperatures reaching -2.Friday & Saturday: The pattern continues, with mostly sunny skies, light westerly winds and alpine temperatures climbing to -1 in the afternoons.

Avalanche Summary

Natural and rider triggered avalanches up to 2.5 have been reported, likely triggering on the March 9th layer. Loose wet sluffs up to 2.0 have also been reported

Confidence

Good

Snowpack Summary

Recent new snow is settling with the influence of warm temperatures. Solar aspects now sport a melt freeze crust. Wind slabs may be found at alpine and treeline elevations on many slope aspects due to variable winds. A layer of surface hoar (buried March 9th; now down about 40-60 cm) is slowly becoming less touchy, but professionals are keeping a wary eye on it. In some places this interface is a crust/facet layer. Triggering this layer is becoming a low probability but high consequence problem. Check out the?Forecaster's Blog?for related discussion. A second surface hoar layer, buried on March 18, is also reported to be gaining strength. The mid snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Cornices are large and untrustworthy, especially when the sun is out.

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