Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 15th, 2019 5:30PM

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

cgarritty, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

The first big warm up of spring is underway. Loose wet avalanches will be an increasing concern on Saturday. Rising temperatures and weak overnight cooling will bring our most recent weak layer back into the spotlight early next week.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

Friday night: Mainly cloudy. Light southwest winds. Saturday: Cloudy with sunny periods increasing over the day. Light southwest winds. Alpine high temperatures around 0 with freezing levels rising to 1900 metres and remaining elevated overnight.Sunday: Mainly sunny. Light variable winds. Alpine high temperatures around +3 as freezing levels rise to 2500 metres by end of day, increasing overnight.Monday: Sunny. Light southeast winds. Alpine high temperatures around +7 with freezing levels reaching 3300 metres and remaining elevated overnight.

Avalanche Summary

On Wednesday a skier remote triggered a size 2 wind slab on a northeast facing alpine slope at 2000 m with a crown 40 cm in depth. There are some great photos in this MIN of a size 2.5 wind slab that was skier triggered on a north facing slope on the Slalok/Matier Glacier. As we enter a period of increasing warming it's worth reminding ourselves that glide cracks are to be avoided at all times. They're incredibly unpredictable and when they fail, they often fail big. Glide avalanche concerns are especially important to consider in the Coquihalla area. A recent social media post from a professional in this part of the region does a great job of highlighting the issue. (Link here)This avalanche was reported from the Duffey Lake area on Tuesday. It indicates the nature of the bond between the recent storm snow and old surfaces below may be poor. Most other recent reports from this region have been of small loose snow avalanches.

Snowpack Summary

Light amounts of new snow have been redistributed by southwesterly and northerly winds, potentially creating some unusual wind slabs, including on south-facing slopes. Beneath this recent snow you may find hard wind-affected snow at higher elevations, soft and faceted snow in shaded and sheltered areas, and melt-freeze crusts on southerly slopes. The middle and lower snowpack is generally well-settled.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Winds shifted to the north at the end of the last storm, building wind slabs on south-facing slopes. These wind slabs likely remain susceptible to human triggering and the increasingly strong spring sun is capable of producing natural avalanches too.

Approach lee and cross-loaded slopes with caution.Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Loose Wet

Weak overnight cooling and steadily increasing temperatures will be increasing the chances of loose wet avalanches over the coming days. Loose wet avalanches may occur naturally or with a human trigger as heat destabilizes surface snow.

Back off from slopes that become moist or wet with rising temperatures.Avoid exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.Loose avalanches may start small but they can grow and push you into dangerous terrain.

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

Elevations: Treeline, Below Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 16th, 2019 2:00PM