Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 14th, 2019 6:52PM

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

ghelgeson, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

Watch for wind slabs in exposed features which likely remain sensitive to human triggering. The strong spring sun could easily produce loose wet avalanches on unshaded slopes Friday, especially in the afternoon.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain on Friday

Weather Forecast

Friday offers one last day of temperatures on the cool side before the heat really comes on for the first time this season. THURSDAY NIGHT: Freezing level near valley bottom, moderate to strong wind generally out of the west with periods of northwest and southwest mixed in for good measure, no significant precipitation expected.FRIDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level rising to 1600 m, light to moderate west/southwest wind, no precipitation expected.SATURDAY: Broken cloud cover, freezing level rising to 1800 m, light to moderate west/southwest wind, no significant precipitation expected.SUNDAY: A few clouds, freezing level approaching 2500 m, light variable wind, no precipitation expected.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday a skier remote triggered a size 2 wind slab on a northeast facing alpine slope at 2000 m with a crown 40 cm in depth. There are some great photos in this MIN of a size 2.5 wind slab that was skier triggered on a north facing slope on the Slalok/Matier Glacier. As we enter a period that looks to be increasingly warm it's worth reminding ourselves that glide cracks are to be avoided at all costs. They're incredibly unpredictable and when they fail, they often fail big as indicated in this great MIN report.This avalanche was reported from the Duffey Lake area on Tuesday. It indicates the nature of the bond between the recent storm snow and old surfaces below may be poor. Most other recent reports from this region have been of small loose snow avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of new snow have been redistributed by southwesterly and northerly winds, potentially creating some unusual wind slabs, including on south-facing slopes. Beneath this recent snow you may find hard wind-affected snow at higher elevations, soft and faceted snow in shaded and sheltered areas, and melt-freeze crusts on southerly slopes. The middle and lower snowpack is generally well-settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds shifted to the north at the end of the last storm, building wind slabs on south-facing slopes. These wind slabs likely remain susceptible to human triggering and the increasingly strong spring sun is capable of producing natural avalanches too.

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Loose wet activity will probably be limited to solar aspects Friday, but even brief periods of sun could produce loose wet avalanches surprisingly quickly. This activity is expected to pick up as temperatures continue to warm this weekend.

Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 15th, 2019 2:00PM