Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 31st, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
swerner,
Avalanche Canada
Wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering at upper elevations, especially where they sit above a crust.
Conditions can change quickly with rain or strong solar input destabilizing the snowpack. Be ready to adjust your plans and scale back your exposure to avalanche terrain
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength.
Weather Forecast
Friday: Mostly overcast skies with 5-10 cm of new snow. Ridgetop wind will be moderate from the West. Freezing levels will likely rise to 1500 m during the day and fall to the valley bottom overnight.
Saturday/ Sunday: Mix of sun and cloud with isolated flurries. Ridgetop wind is moderate from the southwest and freezing levels will remain 1500 m.Â
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday, no significant avalanche activity was reported. Sloughing from steep terrain was seen and older wind slabs up to size 2.Â
On Tuesday, in the north of the region small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive to human-triggering in the alpine. In the south of the region, a natural storm/wind slab cycle up to size 3 occurred, triggered by warm temperatures and strong solar radiation. The most reactivity was noted on south-facing aspects.
A widespread wet loose natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 occurred on Monday on all aspects and elevations. The most activity occurred below treeline.Â
The last persistent slab avalanche in the region was on March 26th. This layer is expected to become dormant after being tested by significant warming followed by cooling temperatures.Â
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of new snow overlies up to 30 cm of denser snow that tapers rapidly with elevation. Westerly wind may form pockets of windslab in the alpine and exposed treeline. A crust or moist snow can be found below the new snow on all aspects as high as 2000 m and to mountain top on solar aspects. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist.
Several other crust layers exist in the upper snowpack, that have shown no recent avalanche activity.
Terrain and Travel
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may exist in lee terrain features in the alpine and treeline, formed by recent snowfall and westerly winds. These wind slabs will be most reactive where they overlie a slick crust.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
If the sun comes out on Friday, watch for wet and heavy surface conditions on steep solar aspects at all elevations.
Avoid avalanche terrain if the snowpack becomes wet and unsupportive to your weight. At lower elevations, above freezing temperatures and rain may create a wet loose problem on all aspects.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Apr 1st, 2022 4:00PM
