Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs, Loose Wet and Cornices.
ejones,
Avalanche Canada
Large natural avalanches are expected to continue with warm temperatures.
Choose mellow terrain and avoid being under steep slopes.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A widespread natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 continued on Monday, with persistent slab avalanches being the most common. A few remote-triggered avalanches were also reported.
Large natural avalanche activity is expected to continue until the temperature drops enough for a hard surface crust to start forming.
Snowpack Summary
Moist or wet snow surfaces extend into the alpine on all aspects.
Two layers of surface hoar and sun crust can be found in the top meter of the snowpack. One from late February and the other from early March.
A hard widespread crust formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a layer of facets above it and continues to be reactive.
The snowpack below this crust is generally not concerning except in shallow alpine terrain.
Weather Summary
Tuesday Night
Cloudy. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around 0 °C. Freezing level drops to 2000 m.
Wednesday
Partly cloudy, with 5 mm in the Northern Selkirks falling as snow above 1500 m, no precipitation elsewhere. 15 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around +3 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 10 to 15 mm, falling as snow above 1250 m. 10 km/h southwest ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around +2 °C. Freezing level drops to 1500 m.
Friday
Partly cloudy. 10 km/h west ridgetop winds. Treeline temperature around +2 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Only the most simple non-avalanche terrain free of overhead hazard is appropriate at this time.
- Avoid lingering or regrouping in runout zones.
- Cornices may release remotely when approached.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Two reactive layers exist in the upper snowpack. One is down 40 cm and the deeper one down 80 to 150 cm. We expect natural avalanches on these layers to continue while warm weather continues.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Warm temperatures will produce widespread wet loose avalanches, especially on steep slopes facing the sun. These may step-down and trigger deeper slab avalanches.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices are becoming weak with above-freezing temperatures in the alpine. Cornice failure could trigger very large destructive avalanches. Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.
Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2024 4:00PM
