Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 28th, 2015 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada jfloyer, Avalanche Canada

Watch for fresh wind slabs in exposed terrain resulting from new snow and high winds.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain

Weather Forecast

5-10 cm new snow is expected between 4pm Saturday and 4am Sunday. A further 2-4 cm is expected during the day on Sunday. Ridgetop winds on Sunday are expected to be up to 50 km/h from the southwest and freezing levels around 1300 m. On Monday, another system is expected to bring around 5 cm to this region. Strong southwest winds and freezing levels around 1300 m are set to continue. On Tuesday, there is a cooling and drying trend. Only trace amounts of precipitation are expected and freezing levels are set to lower to around 1000 m.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanche reports.

Snowpack Summary

Approximately 20 cm of dense storm snow overlies a variety of crusty old surfaces. Weaknesses buried in the upper snowpack may include hard crusts and/or facet crystals, although not much is known about the reactivity or spatial distribution of these layers. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Unpredictable, full-depth glide avalanches are also a concern on low elevation slopes with smooth ground cover (grassy slopes, rock slabs, etc.) where large cracks have formed from the snowpack slipping on the ground.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Fairly light amounts of new snow but strong southwesterly winds are expected to develop wind slabs on mainly north through easterly aspects.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>The new snow will require several days to settle and stabilize.>

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 29th, 2015 2:00PM