Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 24th, 2024 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Storm Slabs, Loose Wet and Persistent Slabs.

Avalanche Canada jsmith, Avalanche Canada

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40 to 50 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.

Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the recent snow.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Numerous naturally triggered size 1 dry loose avalanches and several rider triggered size 1 storm slabs were reported on all aspects at treeline and above on Saturday.

Snowpack Summary

40 to 50 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain. This snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces, except for northerly aspects at upper elevations.

A widespread, hard crust with facets above is buried 80 to 120 cm down in the South Rockies and up to 200 cm in the Lizard range. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear skies. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -12 °C. Freezing level valley bottom.

Monday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -9 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

Tuesday

Mix of sun and cloud. 20 to 30 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1800 m.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy. 30 to 40 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1700 m.

Check out the Mountain Weather Forecast for additional weather information.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for changing conditions today, storm slabs may become increasingly reactive.
  • Use small low consequence slopes to test the bond of the new snow.
  • Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
  • If triggered loose wet avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.
  • Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.

Problems

Storm Slabs

An icon showing Storm Slabs

40 to 50 cm of recent snow may settle into reactive storm slabs, especially in wind affected terrain.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Wet loose avalanches will become increasingly likely when solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Persistent Slabs

An icon showing Persistent Slabs

A crust with weak facets above is down 80 to 200 cm. Large triggers such as smaller avalanches in motion could trigger this layer.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

2 - 3.5

Valid until: Mar 25th, 2024 4:00PM

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