Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 2nd, 2015 8:42AM

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

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Watch for thin wind slabs if you're traveling in the alpine Tuesday.

Summary

Confidence

Good

Weather Forecast

The ridge continues to dominate the weather pattern. Tuesday: Clear skies. Light NW winds at treeline, Moderate to Strong NW winds at ridgetop. Freezing level rising to 1400m, returning to valley bottom overnight. No significant precipitation. Wednesday: Clear skies. Light W winds at treeline, Moderate NW winds at ridgetop. Freezing level rising to 2000m, returning to valley bottom overnight. No significant precipitation. Thursday: Increasing cloud cover. Light NW winds at treeline, Moderate NW winds at ridgetop. Freezing level rising to 2000m, lowering to 800m Thursday night. No significant precipitation.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches were reported over the weekend.

Snowpack Summary

Strong outflow winds (mainly from the north) have created areas of wind slab on lee slopes. On other slopes you may find old wind slabs, a sun crust on all solar aspects, surface hoar, surface facets, and/or up to 5 cm of soft snow over a widespread supportive rain crust in wind sheltered areas. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. However, large cornices may become weak with daytime warming.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds out of the North and Northwest have created small new wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded slopes. These can be triggered by the weight of a person. Also, keep an eye out for large unstable cornices that threaten your route.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 3rd, 2015 2:00PM