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Avalanche Forecast

Mar 16th, 2023–Mar 17th, 2023
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

The possibility of triggering a deep persistent slab avalanche remains the main concern. The sun packs a punch this time of year, so minimize your exposure during peak daytime warming.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday there were still reports of a few natural and explosives triggered storm and wind slab avalanches to size 2 and 3 which were suspected of having stepped down to deeper layers of facets.

On Tuesday there was a widespread natural avalanche cycle. Numerous storm slab and wind slab avalanches were observed on all aspects in the alpine and at treeline, up to size 2.5. Three naturally triggered size 2.5-3 deep persistent slab avalanches were observed in the Dogtooth range running in steep rocky terrain. Evidence of a size 4 natural deep persistent slab avalanche was observed in the western Purcells.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

15-30 cm of wind-affected storm snow falling earlier in the week overlies wind-affected snow in open areas, facetted snow in sheltered areas and a thin sun crust on steep solar slopes.

Buried surface hoar can be found 70-90 cm deep in sheltered terrain features. A thin sun crust exists at the same depth on steep south-facing terrain.

The lower snowpack is made up of a widespread layer of large, weak facets and/or depth hoar crystals. This weak layer has been responsible for a number of recent very large, destructive avalanches and will continue to be a concern.

Weather Summary

Thursday Night

Cloudy with clear periods. Treeline temperature -7 °C. Wind light southwest.

Friday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1600m.

Saturday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature -1 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1700m.

Sunday

Mainly sunny. Treeline temperature 0 °C. Wind light southwest. Freezing level rising to 1800m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be especially cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Minimize exposure to sun-exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.
  • Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
  • Avoid areas with a thin or variable snowpack.
  • If triggered, storm slabs in-motion may step down to deeper layers and result in very large avalanches.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

15-30 cm of storm snow has settled with warm temperatures into a reactive storm slab over a variety of surfaces. Be extra cautious on north and east slopes where southwest winds have built deeper pockets of storm slab.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Deep Persistent Slabs

The base of the snowpack remains very weak. Very large human triggered avalanches are possible at treeline and above.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2.5 - 4

Persistent Slabs

Numerous weak layers from January and February exist at all elevations on a variety of aspects. On shaded slopes, these layers generally present as surface hoar, and on sun-exposed slopes they present as facets and a crust.

Be aware these layers can be remotely triggered (from a distance).

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size: 1.5 - 3