Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 28th, 2015 8:00AM
The alpine rating is Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeAvalanche hazard will increase with warm temperatures and sunshine. Persistent layers in the upper snowpack are sensitive to triggering.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Freezing levels remained high overnight but are expected to drop to 2000m today. Precipitation will taper off later this morning with a mix of sun and cloud. Expect moderate westerly ridge winds with gusts to 55km/hr and an alpine high of 0 C. Typical spring temperatures resume tonight as freezing levels drop to 1400m.12 cm of snow for Sunday.
Snowpack Summary
Freezing levels above 2200m overnight and 10mm of rain early this morning. Suspect moist and warm upper snowpack. Lee loading from strong S winds. At higher elevations, up to 70cm of settling storm snow sits over several persistent week layers in the form of crusts, surface hoar and facetted layers which are reactive to light loads such as skiers.
Avalanche Summary
Artillery avalanche control in the highway corridor resulted in several size 20-2.5 slab avalanches. Avalanches were moist in character and failed on a crust in the upper snowpack. Several Natural loose wet and slab avalanches were observed in the highway corridor and adjacent backcountry areas during the warmest part to the day.
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Layers down 40-100cm have been triggered naturally and by light loads such as skiers and sluffing from steep terrain. Remote triggering and wide propagations are possible. Cornice failures from warm daytime temperatures could trigger these layers.
Be aware of the potential for wide propagations.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Warm temperatures prevented a re-freeze of surface snow. 10mm of rain fell this morning, further destabilizing the upper snowpack. Freezing levels at 2000m and sunshine will increase hazard on solar slopes. These avalanches can run far and fast.
Watch for clues, like sluffing off of cliffs, that the snowpack is warming up.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 29th, 2015 8:00AM