Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 17th, 2015 9:09AM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
pgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Winds have created a variable snowpack. Be alert to conditions that change with aspect and elevation.
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Weather Forecast
Generally light precipitation is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with the freezing level around 1200 m and winds moderate to strong from the S to SE. On Friday, a more organised system brings 5-15 mm precipitation with the freezing level near 1400 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Monday, several loose avalanches to size 1.5 were observed on solar aspects. A skier triggered a size 1 wind slab in the alpine. Explosives control on Sunday triggered several very large avalanches near Stewart, failing at ground or on a deeply buried crust.
Snowpack Summary
Around 1 m of recent storm snow was redistributed by strong and variable winds, creating widespread wind slabs. Operators now report reasonable settlement and bonding within the storm snow. Older buried surfaces include wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. The mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found, particularly on shallow alpine slopes in the north of the region. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Below treeline, the snow appears to be in a spring melt-freeze cycle.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs have formed on many slopes following shifting winds. Cornices may be fragile and could break off further back from the edge than expected.
Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 18th, 2015 2:00PM
