Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2015 9:00AM

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

Avalanche Canada triley, Avalanche Canada

Forecast warm temperatures, sunny skies, and high freezing temperatures are expected to weaken windslabs and cornices in the alpine.

Summary

Confidence

Fair - Timing or intensity of solar radiation is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Mix of high cloud and clear skies overnight with moderate southwest winds and freezing levels dropping down to about 1400 metres. Some warm air (slightly below freezing) may remain at higher elevations overnight. Tuesday mostly sunny with a chance of high cloud combined with light southwest winds and freezing levels rising up to about 2300 metres. Cloudy with light – moderate precipitation on Wednesday with moderate southwest winds and freezing levels around 1900 metres. Mix of sun and cloud on Thursday with light winds and 1800 metre freezing levels.

Avalanche Summary

Several reports of windslabs up to size 1.5 on various aspects in the alpine that were 20-30 cm deep.

Snowpack Summary

Variable recent storm snow totals across the region are generally in the 5-25 cm range. The snow surface varies with elevation and aspect with respect to sun and wind exposure, and includes dry new snow, loose facetted snow, wind slabs, and sun crusts. The mid-February crust is down around 10-30 cm where it is not wind loaded or scoured. The late-Jan crust/surface hoar layer (up to 100 cm deep) and the mid-January surface hoar (80-120 cm deep) are generally dormant, and chances of triggering these weaknesses have decreased. However, triggering may be possible with a large input such as cornice fall, or an avalanche stepping down, especially on slopes that see a lot of sun.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs
Shifting wind directions continue to re-deposit surface snow into pockets of windslab in the alpine.
Stay well to the windward side of corniced ridges.>Use caution in lee areas in the alpine. Recent wind loading has created wind slabs.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Cornices

An icon showing Cornices
Forecast warm temperatures and high freezing levels may weaken cornices. Cornice falls may step down to buried persistent weak layers.
Cornices become weak with daytime heating. >Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 3

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2015 2:00PM

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