Avalog
Register
Get forecast notifications
Create an account to receive email notifications when forecasts are published.
Register
Login
Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Mar 19th, 2015–Mar 20th, 2015
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be moderate
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low

Regions: Northwest Coastal.

Wind slabs may keep building, even if snowfall amounts are not great.

Confidence

Fair - Timing, track, or intensity of incoming weather system is uncertain

Weather Forecast

Light snow is expected on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (around 5 cm a day). Winds are moderate to strong, mainly from the south. The freezing level should be near 1900 m on Friday, dropping to 300 m on Saturday.

Avalanche Summary

Explosives triggered a size 1.5 wind slab on Wednesday. A skier also recently triggered a size 1 wind slab in the alpine. Explosives control on Sunday triggered several very large avalanches near Stewart, failing at ground or on a deeply buried crust.

Snowpack Summary

Around 1 m of recent storm snow was redistributed by strong and variable winds, creating widespread wind slabs. Operators report settlement and bonding within the storm snow. Older buried surfaces include wind slabs, hard crusts, surface hoar, and/or surface facets. With more snow and wind forecast, new storm slabs are expected to form. The mid-pack is generally well-settled and strong. At the base of the snowpack, weak facets may be found, particularly on shallow alpine slopes in the north of the region. Cornices are large and potentially fragile. Below treeline, the snow appears to be in a spring melt-freeze cycle.

Avalanche Problems

Storm Slabs

Snow and winds are expected to combine to form slabs that could be triggered by the weight of a person or sled.
Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.>Give cornices a wide berth when travelling on or below ridges.>Travel on ridgetops to avoid wind slabs on slopes below.>

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 1 - 3