Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 30th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Wind Slabs and Cornices.
zryan,
Avalanche Canada
Conditions may change quickly with rain or strong solar input. Be ready to scale back your exposure to avalanche terrain if the surface crust breaks down.
Cautious route-finding will be important at upper elevations as wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering.
Summary
Confidence
Low - Uncertainty is due to how quickly the snowpack will recover and gain strength. Uncertainty is due to the timing or intensity of solar radiation and its effect on the snowpack.
Weather Forecast
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mainly cloudy, light flurries. Freezing level dropping to valley bottom. 20-40 km/h northwesterly winds.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with flurries, greatest accumulation in the north of the region (2-3 cm). Freezing level rising to 1200 m. 25-40 km/h westerly winds.
FRIDAY: Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Freezing level rising to 1300 m. 20-35 km/h southwesterly winds.
SATURDAY: Partially cloudy with flurries, clearing around mid-day in the north of the region. Freezing level rising to 1700 m. 20-40 km/h westerly winds.Â
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, in the north of the region small (size 1) wind slabs were reactive to human-triggering in the alpine. In the south of the region, a natural storm/wind slab cycle up to size 3 occurred, triggered by warm temperatures and strong solar radiation. The most reactivity was noted on south-facing aspects.
A widespread wet loose natural avalanche cycle up to size 3 occurred on Monday on all aspects and elevations. The most activity occurred below treeline.Â
The last persistent slab avalanche in the region was on March 26th. This layer is expected to become dormant after being tested by significant warming followed by cooling temperatures.Â
Snowpack Summary
5-15 cm of new snow overlies up to 30 cm of denser snow that tapers rapidly with elevation. Westerly wind may form pockets of windslab in the alpine and exposed treeline. A crust or moist snow can be found below the new snow on all aspects as high as 2000 m and to mountain top on solar aspects. Below the crust, the top 10-30 cm of the snowpack is moist.
Several other crust layers exist in the upper snowpack, that have shown no recent reactivity. The remainder of the snowpack is well-bonded.
Terrain and Travel
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating or solar exposure.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
Problems
Loose Wet
Avoid avalanche terrain if the snowpack becomes wet and unsupportive to your weight. At lower elevations, a poor overnight crust recovery followed by above freezing temperatures and rain may create a wet loose problem on all aspects.
If the sun comes out on Thursday, watch for wet and heavy surface conditions on steep solar aspects at all elevations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may exist in lee terrain features in the alpine and treeline, formed by recent snowfall and westerly winds. These wind slabs will be most reactive where they overlie a slick crust.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Springtime cornices are large and unpredictable. Give them a wide berth when travelling at ridge crest and avoid overhead exposure, especially when the air temperature is warm or solar radiation is strong.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 31st, 2022 4:00PM
