Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 17th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Loose Wet and Cornices.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
⚠️ Avoid All avalanche terrain ⚠️Soaring freezing levels and solar radiation will likely continue to produce very large naturally triggered avalanches.
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Summary
Confidence
High
Avalanche Summary
Numerous naturally triggered wet loose and persistent slab avalanches up to size 3 (very large) were reported on all aspects and elevations on Saturday.
Very large, natural avalanches are expected to continue to occur on Monday.
Snowpack Summary
High freezing levels overnight will result in no overnight re-freeze of the snow surface. As a result, the avalanche danger will rise rapidly throughout the day.
A weak layer of surface hoar is buried 40-60 cm in some areas. A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-200 cm deep. Both of these layers remain very likely for human triggering.
Cornices have become large and looming, and are more likely to fail during periods of warming.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Clear skies. 10 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Freezing level 3100 m.
Monday
Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 12 °C. Freezing level 3200 m.
Tuesday
Sunny. 10 to 15 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 10 °C. Freezing level 2700 m.
Wednesday
Mix of sun and cloud. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 7 °C. Freezing level 2100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid all avalanche terrain during periods of intense solar radiation.
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets overtop is down 80 to 200 cm. Very large natural and human triggered avalanches occurring on this layer are very likely on Monday.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers, resulting in very large avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are large, looming and will likely trigger very large persistent slab avalanches when they fail.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 18th, 2024 4:00PM
