A firm, supportive, upper snowpack makes avalanches unlikely. Avoid steep slopes if they are loose and slushy, and watch for small windslabs in the high alpine. Bring your crampons and ice axes.
Summary
Confidence
High - Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Light rain/snow expected. Moderate to strong southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level falling to around 1000 m.Â
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with a possible clear period in the morning. Light snow/rain expected. Moderate southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1000 m.Â
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny at high elevations, low to mid level cloud. Very light snow/rain expected. Light variable ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1200 m.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Light to moderate snow/rain expected. Strong southwest ridgetop wind. Freezing level around 1300 m.Â
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, loose wet avalanche activity tapered off as the temperature dropped, and the sun went behind the clouds.Â
On Monday, small, loose wet avalanche activity in the top 10 cms was most active on steep slopes in the sun. Â
If you venture into the mountains, please share any observations on the Mountain Information Network.Â
Snowpack Summary
A dusting of new snow may cover a melt freeze crust that exists over moist snow to mountain top. The crust may break down as temperatures rise through the day, and on steep, south facing slopes if the sun pokes out.
At treeline and above, another, thicker crust 10 cm below the snow surface is limiting loose wet avalanches to the near-surface snow.Â
Terrain and Travel
- Make observations and assess conditions continually as you travel.
- Minimize your exposure time below cornices.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
- Use caution above cliffs and terrain traps where even small avalanches may have severe consequences.
Problems
Loose Wet
Freezing levels are dropping, but mild daytime warming and spots of intense spring sun could make loose wet avalanches possible.
The size of these avalanches will be mostly influenced by how deep the loose snow is.
- If there is a solid, supportive crust on the surface, avalanches will be unlikely.
- If the temperature is above zero, the sun is on a slope, and there is very little wind to keep the surface cool, avalanches will become more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Cornices have not been reported to be particularly large or overhung, but there were several cornice falls reported during the last warm-up. With the fast change in temperature, give them one more day of extra caution before returning to normal caution.
Good travel habits around cornices include:
- stay far back from the edge when you are travelling on a corniced ridgetop
- Avoid travelling under cornices, or put as much distance and terrain as you can between you and the cornice if travelling under them is unavoidable.
- Travel one at a time under a suspect slope, with eyes on the person crossing.
Aspects: North, North East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 30th, 2022 4:00PM
