Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 23rd, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs.
Timothy Johnson,
A rapid drop in temperatures will likely freeze shut all the moist snow tree line and below. New snow and strong winds will have built fresh wind slabs.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud.
Precipitation: Nil.
Alpine temperature: High -8 C.
Ridge wind west: 10-30 km/h.
Freezing level at valley bottom.
Friday
Cloudy with sunny periods and isolated flurries.
Precipitation: Trace.
Alpine temperature: Low -10 C, High -4 C.
Ridge wind southwest: 10-20 km/h.
Freezing level: 1700 metres.
Snowpack Summary
Freezing levels were around 2300m on Wednesday afternoon. The top 10cm of snow at tree line was moist. Strong SW winds and new snow building are building wind slabs in the alpine and exposed tree line.
Avalanche Summary
Over the last 48hrs there has been a widespread wet loose avalanche cycle mostly tree line and below off steep, rocky, and shallow features. Also several wind slabs up to size 2 have been noted in the alpine. One wet loose avalanche on Tuesday caused by rockfall on Polar Circus caught two climbers resulting in serious injures.
Confidence
Due to the number and quality of field observations
Problems
Wind Slabs
Increasing winds and snow will build new wind slabs in the alpine and possibly down into exposed tree line.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets while approaching and climbing ice routes.
- Minimize overhead exposure during periods of heavy loading from new snow, wind.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 24th, 2022 4:00PM
