Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 7th, 2015 7:39AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Pacific moisture is forecast to slide down out of the Northwest over the next few days resulting in increased avalanche danger.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain on Monday

Weather Forecast

Cloudy overnight with moderate westerly winds and freezing levels down to valley bottoms. Winds becoming strong southwest on Sunday with light precipitation starting in the afternoon as freezing levels rise up to about 1600 metres. 5-10 cm of new snow combined with strong southwest winds by Monday morning. Expect heavier snowfall in the north and east of the region. Light snow (maybe another 3-5 cm) and moderate winds on Tuesday.

Avalanche Summary

Small (size 1-1.5) skier-triggered wind slabs have been reported in exposed alpine terrain, and loose snow sluffing in steep terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Variable recent storm snow totals across the region are generally in the 5-25 cm range. The snow surface varies with elevation and aspect with respect to sun and wind exposure, and includes dry new snow, loose facetted snow, wind slabs, and sun crusts. The mid-February crust is down around 10-30 cm where it isn't wind loaded or scoured. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Variable winds continue to develop pockets of windslab in the alpine and at treeline.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Avoid travelling in areas that have been reverse loaded by winds.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 8th, 2015 3:00PM