Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2012 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Cornices.
pmarshall,
Avalanche Canada
Summary
Confidence
Fair - Forecast snowfall amounts are uncertain
Weather Forecast
Tonight and Tuesday: Moderate snowfall - Approximately 5cm overnight and an additional 5-15cm on Tuesday. The freezing level (FL) is around 500m and winds are moderate from the S-SW. Wednesday: Unsettled conditions with convective flurries - 5-10cm. FL is near 500m. Winds easing to light from the south. Thursday: Mainly cloudy with light flurries. No significant accumulation.
Avalanche Summary
There was one report of a Size 2.5 natural slab avalanche on a SW aspect along the highway corridor west of Terrace. The crown was reported to be 45-70cm deep. Otherwise there were no new observations.
Snowpack Summary
The soon to be buried snow surface includes a sun crust on southerly aspects, surface facets or surface hoar in cool shady areas, and pockets of wind slab in exposed terrain. A variety of potential weak layers exist between 60 and 120cm deep. These include surface hoar or facets. There has been no recent activity on these layers but they could wake up with heavy triggers like a large cornice chunk or a snowmobile digging its track in. Cornices in the region are reported to be very large and potentially unstable.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2012 9:00AM
