Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 10th, 2021 1:00AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet and Wind Slabs.
Jesse Percival,
VIAC
No new avalanches observed or reported over the past forecast period.
Summary
Past Weather
Light to moderate winds and snow flurries delivered up to 5 cm of new snow to zones above 600 meters. Temps remained cool with brief periods of freezing levels above 1200 meters.
Weather Forecast
A ridge of high pressure continues to keep any new storm systems at bay. Expect continued unsettled weather with very little precipitation and obscured mountain tops at times.Wednesday: trace amounts of precipitation, Winds Light from the North West, Freezing levels 300 meters with a day time a high of 600 meters.Thursday: No new precipitation, Winds Light to Moderate from the North East, Freezing levels at sea level with a day time a high of 500 meters.Friday: 1 to 5 cm , Winds Moderate to Strong from the North East, Freezing levels at sea level with a day time a high of 500 meters.-
Terrain Advice
Caution when transitioning into terrain with recent wind loading and steep convex roll features.Avoid direct solar terrain during periods of sunshine and daytime warming.Caution above or below cornice features, recent loading has continued to build upon already very large cornices.
Snowpack Summary
Storm snow amounts between 80 to 150 centimeters has been transported by the wind and can be found on North west thru to North east aspects. This new load of snow continues to settle and overlies a facet crust combination. Terrain exposed to the wind is stripped and scoured. The persistent slab from February is now down over 200 centimeters and is dormant and currently non reactive to testing . Below the snowpack is dense and well settled.
Snowpack Details
- Surface: Low density and dry.
- Upper: Settling new snow between 100 and 150 centimeters.
- Mid: Old unreactive crusts, overall dense and well settled.
- Lower: Well settled and dense.
Confidence
High - Numerous forecaster field observations and good agreement with weather forecast models.
Problems
Loose Wet
Clear sky and sun will cause the surface snow to become unconsolidated.
**Location:** Specific to steep Solar aspect terrain and at all elevations.
**Possibility:** Triggering of this avalanche problem from light loads such as skiers is likely to very likely. Natural avalanches are likely.
**Size:** If triggered, expect these avalanches to be small size 1 but could gain mass and push a traveler into a terrain trap.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Found on predominantly North aspects. This avalanche problem was formed during the past storms strong south west winds and is beginning to settle and bond.
Moderate winds have continued to build fresh wind slab and Caution on freshly loaded slopes is advised.
**Location:** North East thru to North West aspects and found in both the Alpine and Tree line.
**Possibility:** Triggering of this avalanche problem is unlikely to possible from light loads such as skiers. Natural avalanches are very unlikely.
**Size:** If triggered expect these avalanches to be large size 2, and on isolated terrain features very large, size 3 .
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 11th, 2021 1:00AM
