Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 4th, 2015 3:00PM

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

pgoddard, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Watch for thin wind slabs in the alpine that could be problematic, especially in technical terrain.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Due to the number of field observations

Weather Forecast

Expect dry and cloudy conditions until Saturday, when light flurries are expected. The freezing level is expected to be near 2000 m. Winds are moderate to strong from the west.

Avalanche Summary

A skier remotely triggered a size 1.5 wind slab on Tuesday on a SE aspect in the alpine.

Snowpack Summary

North and west winds have created isolated stiff wind slabs 5 to 10cm thick on lee and cross-loaded slopes. On other slopes you may find tired old wind slabs, a sun crust on all solar aspects, surface hoar, surface facets, and/or up to 5 cm of soft snow over a widespread supportive rain crust in wind sheltered areas. The snowpack is generally strong and well settled. However, large cornices may become weak with daytime warming.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Outflow winds have created wind slabs on lee and cross-loaded slopes. These can be triggered by the weight of a person. Also, keep an eye out for large unstable cornices that threaten your route.

Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.>

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 5th, 2015 2:00PM