Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 19th, 2020 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet.
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Avalanche Canada
Warm sunny weather continues. Use increased caution when slopes and cornices warm up throughout the day.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Clear dry weather continues until Monday.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clear skies, calm, freezing level remains around 1700 m, treeline temperatures drop to +2 C.
FRIDAY: Sunny, light to moderate northwest wind, freezing level around 1700 m, treeline temperatures reach +6 C.
SATURDAY: Sunny, light to moderate northwest wind, freezing level climbing to 2000 m in the afternoon, treeline temperatures reach +8 C.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds throughout the day, moderate to strong southwest wind, freezing level drops to 1300 m, treeline temperatures around +2 C.
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches have been reported the past few days, although warm temperatures have likely resulted in natural wet loose avalanches in steep south-facing terrain. A few size 1-2 wind slab avalanches were human triggered over the weekend (see these MIN reports for more details), but they should be less reactive after several days of warm weather.
Snowpack Summary
Sustained above freezing temperatures for the past few days has resulted in moist snow on the surface. Crusts may form overnight, and shaded alpine slopes likely have hard wind slabs on the surface. The snowpack is well-settled. Depths are roughly 300-400 cm around 1200-1400 m and taper rapidly with elevation, with no snow below 700 m.
Terrain and Travel
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
- Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.
Problems
Loose Wet
Watch for wet loose avalanches on steep sun-exposed slopes and remember cornices could become weak with daytime heating.
Aspects: South East, South, South West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 20th, 2020 4:00PM
