Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 5th, 2018 4:20PM

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

shorton, Avalanche Canada

South Coast.

Cornices and surface snow could become weak when hit by direct sunlight.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations

Weather Forecast

TUESDAY: Increasing cloud throughout the day with isolated flurries and trace amounts of new snow, light west wind, alpine high temperatures around -10 C.WEDNESDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light wind, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.THURSDAY: Cloudy, light wind with moderate gusts, alpine high temperatures around -8 C.

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.Check out this MCR report (here) that talks about the strong late winter sun initiating natural avalanches to size 2 on Thursday.

Snowpack Summary

Isolated flurries are depositing light amounts of new snow throughout the region and sporadic sunny breaks could weaken the surface snow. 50-70 cm of storm snow from last week is settling and gaining strength. On southerly aspects, the storm snow sits above a sun crust which is a potential sliding layer to monitor.Cornices have formed on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as they are subject to the strong late-winter sun on clear days.

Problems

Cornices

Continued snowfall and strong wind from around the clock has formed large cornices on many ridgelines. Cornices are inherently unstable, unpredictable, and demand respect, especially when the sun is out.

Give cornices a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.Firm cornices may pull back into flat terrain at ridgetop if they fail.Avoid slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if they have large cornices overhead.

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

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 3

Storm Slabs

Snow from last week's storm is quickly gaining strength, but may still be suspect on south-facing slopes where it sits above a buried sun crust.

Be cautious around steep south-facing slopes.Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequences of a small avalanche could be serious.Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 6th, 2018 2:00PM