Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 24th, 2022 4:22PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
Cory Boschman,
Fresh wind slabs at tree line and above still require careful assessment. As always in the spring, pay attention to how hot it's getting, and how strong the sun is.
Summary
Weather Forecast
Friday: Cloudy with sunny periods. Nil Precip. High -3 C. Ridge wind southwest: 10-20 km/h. Freezing level: 1800 metres.
Saturday: Flurries 9 cm. Low -5 C, High -1 C. Mostly light ridge wind. Freezing level: 2100 metres.
Sunday: Flurries 10 cm. Low -3 C, High 0 C. Ridge wind southwest: 15 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. Freezing level: 2200 metres.
Snowpack Summary
5-10cm low density new snow, redistributed by strong SW winds, overlies yesterday's sun crust and melt-freeze crusts up to 2100m (1-10cm thick elevation dependent).
Snow pack below 1700m is either wet or refrozen depending on the time of day and the solar input.
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
Freezing levels are uncertain
Problems
Wind Slabs
Previous strong SW winds, with new snow, has formed wind slabs at TL and in the ALP. Treat these with caution and give them time to bond to the old surfaces.
- Use caution in lee areas. Recent wind loading have created wind slabs.
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
The significance of this problem will vary widely depending on aspect, elevation, and the time of day. Pay attention to how good the overnight freeze is, as well as how quickly things are warming up.
- Use extra caution on solar slopes or if the snow is moist or wet.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 25th, 2022 4:00PM
