Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 6th, 2013 9:12AM

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

triley, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to limited field observations for the entire period

Weather Forecast

Overnight and Thursday: Mostly sunny with light Southwest winds and no precipitation. Freezing level rising to 800 metres during the day. Alpine temperature -8.0 overnight.Friday: The ridge is expected to continue to influence most of the province bringing mostly sunny skies and light winds with freezing levels rising to about 1000 metres.Saturday: Becoming cloudy overnight with light precipitation and moderate Southwest winds.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches have been reported from the region.

Snowpack Summary

The West of the region is reporting new surface hoar growth from 5-15 mm. The recent storm snow continues to settle and has been covered by a dusting of new snow in areas that received some convective snow showers. Foot penetration has been reported to be about 40 cms in the deeper snowpack areas of the region. The East parts of the region have reported a shallow weak snowpack with areas of basal facets. Strong southwest winds have formed touchy wind slabs in exposed terrain in the lee of ridges, gully side walls, and behind terrain features. There are a variety of old interfaces now down 60 - 100cm which include facets, crusts and isolated pockets of surface hoar.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Recent wind slabs are becoming more stubborn to human triggers, but may release with larger triggers like re-grouping or multiple people on the same slope. Watch for unsupported convex slopes, and shallow weak spots around exposed rocks and trees.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 4

Valid until: Mar 7th, 2013 2:00PM