Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Loose Dry.
TJ,
Avalanche Canada
Investigate how the new snow is bonding to the previous surface before committing to any terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Numerous loose wet avalanches plus large slab avalanches running on the Feb Crust with some stepping down to ground have been observed in the past week on all aspects and elevations.
Snowpack Summary
The upper snow pack is either a crust in the cold mornings or moist snow in the warm afternoons on all aspects and elevations except the high north. The Feb 3rd crust interface is down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Wednesday
Periods of snow.
Accumulation: 15 cm.
Alpine temperature: High -2 °C.
Ridge wind light to 25 km/h.
Freezing level: 2000m
Thursday
Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries.
Accumulation: 5cm.
Alpine temperature: Low -14 °C, High -7 °C.
Ridge wind northeast: 10 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind or rain.
- Even a small avalanche can be harmful if it pushes you into an obstacle or a terrain trap.
Problems
Storm Slabs
New snow is forecasted to fall through Wednesday into Thursday. Watch for how this new snow is bonding to the previous surface and how the moist snow below withstands this new load.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Dry
Loose dry avalanches likely won't be much of a hazard unless they push you into or off a terrain trap. The new snow could be sliding far and fast if the previous moist surface snow forms a slippery crust.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2024 4:00PM
