Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 27th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Loose Wet.
mhalik,
Avalanche Canada
Danger is expected to be highest during the warmest parts of the day.Human triggering remains a concern with buried persistent weak layers.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Tuesday, a few loose wet avalanches were observed in the north of the region, occurring on steep sunny slopes, ranging from small to large (sizes 1 to 2).
Monday, a few glide slab avalanches were observed in the Iskut area.
Saturday, three very large (size 3) persistent slab avalanches were observed in the north of the region. They occurred on south-facing alpine slopes and were likely triggered by daytime warming.
Snowpack Summary
A thick widespread crust caps the snowpack in most areas. At lower elevations and on steep sunny slopes, the crust may soften with warming during the day or the snowpack may become isothermal.
Dry powder snow still exists on high north-facing alpine slopes and a weak layer of surface hoar is developing in sheltered terrain at treeline and above.
Various weak layers, including crusts, facets, and/or surface hoar exist approximately 40 to 80 cm deep. An additional crust and facet layer may be found 100 to 150+ cm below the surface. Lingering concern remains for human-triggering on these persistent weak layers.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy. 20 to 30 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature drops to around -4°C. Freezing level drops to around 300 m.
Thursday
A mix of sun and cloud. 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around 0 °C. Freezing level rising to 1200 m.
Friday
Sunny, 10 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1100 m.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, 30 to 40 km/h west ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature around -1 °C. Freezing level rising to 1100 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
Problems
Persistent Slabs
Avoid shallow or variable depth snowpacks in the alpine and treeline where triggering a persistent weak layer is more likely.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if the snow is wet.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 28th, 2024 4:00PM
