Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 4th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
trettie,
Avalanche Canada
Keep an eye out for signs of instability like "Whumphing", shooting cracks and avalanche activity. There is some uncertainty in reactivity of buried weak layers as well as there distribution.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Over the past few days several skier triggered avalanches up to size 2.5 have been reported. many of these avalanches failed on weak layers from February and January and occurred at treeline. a few skier triggered wind slabs have also been reported , these avalanches have been near ridge crests on north and east aspects.
Snowpack Summary
Storm totals from the past week average 40 to 60 cm. Expect deeper deposits on north and east facing slopes, from west and southerly winds. This storm snow sits over heavily wind affected surfaces at all elevations.A
A layer of surface hoar can be found on shaded slopes, and a sun crust on sun affected slopes buried 40 to 70 cm deep. Another layer from January is buried up to 50 cm below this. These layers has been noted as a failure plane for some avalanche activity.
Otherwise, the snowpack is generally well consolidated and bonding. The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. These facets are slowly gaining strength and have not produced recent avalanche activity. We continue to track the layer and watch for any signs that it could wake up and produce very large avalanches.
Weather Summary
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Moderate southeast winds and a low of -11°C at 1800 m.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy with the possibility of light flurries bringing a few centimeters of new snow. Light southeast winds and a high of -6°C at 1800 m.
Monday
A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light southerly winds and a high of -6°C at 1800 m.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny with no new snow expected. Light southwest winds and a high of -6°C at 1800 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanching tapers off.
- Persistent slabs have potential to pull back to lower angle terrain.
- Surface hoar distribution is highly variable. Avoid generalizing your observations.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
There are two layers of concern in the upper and mid pack. These layers are generally made up of facets and surface hoar but on south aspects a crust can be found. These layers are most likely to be triggered on sparsely treed slopes at treeline and below.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Rider triggerable wind slabs can likely be found on exposed terrain at treeline and above on north and east aspects.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 5th, 2023 4:00PM
