Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 22nd, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
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Avalanche Canada
Watch for slopes with fresh wind slabs and keep your risk tolerance to a minimum while public health resources are strained.
Summary
Confidence
High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.
Weather Forecast
A weak frontal system crosses the region on Monday.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy, moderate southwest wind, freezing level drops to 1400 m, alpine temperatures drop to -8 C.
MONDAY: Cloudy with light flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow, easing overnight, moderate southwest wind, freezing level around 1400 m with alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
TUESDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries and a trace of new snow, light southwest winds, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
WEDNESDAY: 1-5 cm of new snow by the morning then clearing in the afternoon, light west wind, alpine high temperatures around -5 C.
Avalanche Summary
Light flurries could form thin wind slabs that have potential to be reactive above the surface hoar that formed on the surface over the past week.
Recent avalanche activity has primarily been small wet loose avalanches in steep south-facing terrain (size 1-1.5). Persistent slab avalanche activity has quieted down over the past two weeks, with only a few small to large (size 1-2) avalanches releasing on the late February surface hoar layer. These were most often triggered between 1700 m and 2100 m on northwest to east aspects.
If you decide to travel in the backcountry, consider sharing your observations with us and fellow recreationists via the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
Surface conditions are a variable mix of crusts, moist snow, and hard old wind slabs. Small surface hoar has been growing on the surface each night, likely remaining intact on shaded aspects during the day.
Persistent weak layers may be found in the upper snowpack, but have been trending towards dormancy. The most prominent and widespread layer was buried in late February and is now 40 to 80 cm deep. This layer is most commonly found in open trees and has produced a few isolated avalanches over the past few weeks.
Terrain and Travel
- Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
- Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Light flurries and strong southwest wind could form isolated wind slabs at higher elevations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2020 4:00PM
