Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 23rd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
shorton,
Avalanche Canada
New snow has created heightened avalanche conditions on some slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to the limited number of field observations.
Weather Forecast
Unsettled conditions with light flurries for the next few days.
MONDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with light flurries and up to 5 cm of new snow, light southwest wind, freezing level drops to 600 m, treeline temperatures drop to -4 C.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloud with isolated flurries, light wind, freezing level around 800 m, treeline temperatures reach -2 C.
WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light northwest wind, freezing level around 800 m, treeline temperatures reach -2 C.
THURSDAY: Increasing cloud with light flurries in the evening, moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 600 m, treeline temperatures reach -3 C.
Avalanche Summary
Slab avalanches are a concern on slopes with accumulations of new snow, especially in wind loaded terrain.
No recent avalanches have been reported, but mountain travel and field observations have been very limited over the past few days.
We have a preliminary report of a snowshoer who was recently fatally involved in an avalanche in the Mt. Brunswick area. The individual was recovered on March 20, three days after being reported missing and six days after beginning their trip. The avalanche was a 45-100 cm deep wind slab release on steep terrain and it buried a trail 50-60 m below it. Given snowpack changes since the likely date of this incident, similar avalanches are not expected to occur going forward.
Snowpack Summary
10-15 cm of new snow covers moist and crusty layers that formed over the past week. There is some uncertainty about how well the new snow will bond to these interfaces. The snowpack is well-settled. Snowpack depths diminish rapidly with elevation, with 300-400 cm at treeline and no snow below 700 m.
Terrain and Travel
- Stick to well supported, lower angle terrain.
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Roughly 5-15 cm of new snow could form unstable slabs in steep terrain. There is uncertainty about how well these slabs will bond to underlying interfaces.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 24th, 2020 4:00PM
