Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 25th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Wind Slabs.
mconlan,
Avalanche Canada
Terrain management is still your best approach at avoiding the persistent slab problem.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
Over the weekend we received reports of small avalanches and sluffing in the 10 to 20 cm of recent snow.
The latest report of persistent slab activity was from Friday, when several naturally triggered avalanches occurred on north aspects at alpine elevations.
A cooling trend with some precipitation may decrease the likelihood of humans triggering buried weak layers, but the consequence of being caught in such an avalanche would be catastrophic.
Snowpack Summary
Around 10 to 20 cm of settled soft snow exists on shaded alpine slopes. Sun-exposed slopes and all aspects below 1800 m have a hard surface melt-freeze crust.
Two layers of surface hoar on shaded slopes and a crust on sun-exposed slopes may be found in the top metre of the snowpack.
A widespread crust that formed in early February is buried about 80 to 150 cm deep. This crust has a weak layer of facets above it that are slowly strengthening.
The remainder of the snowpack is settled.
Weather Summary
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 10 to 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C.
Tuesday
Cloudy with 1 to 3 cm of snow. 20 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy with 2 to 5 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Thursday
Cloudy with 5 to 15 cm of snow. 20 to 30 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be mindful that deep instabilities are still present and have produced recent large avalanches.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Two weak layers persist in the top metre of the snowpack. These layers could release from large loads such as a cornice fall or by humans where the snowpack is relatively thin.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs may linger in steep lee terrain features near ridgetop.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 26th, 2024 4:00PM
