Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 30th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Storm Slabs and Cornices.
rbuhler,
Avalanche Canada
The recent storm snow is expected to remain reactive to human triggering on Thursday. In the north of the region, the problem may be more widespread with greater snow accumulation. In the south, the storm snow is expected to primarily be a concern in wind loaded terrain.
Summary
Confidence
Weather Forecast
Unsettled conditions are expected for Thursday before a storm system arrives on Friday.
Wednesday night: Light snowfall up to 5 cm, moderate SW winds, treeline low around -5 °C.
Thursday: Mainly cloudy with periods of sun in the morning and a chance of isolated flurries, light to moderate W winds, freezing level around 1000 m.
Friday: Snowfall 10-20 cm, moderate to strong S winds, freezing level around 1100 m.
Saturday: Light snowfall up to 10 cm, moderate to strong SW winds, freezing level around 1100 m.
Avalanche Summary
Early reports from Wednesday include isolated wind slabs up to size 2 in the Bear Pass area. Further north, ski cutting was triggering size 1 storm slabs and explosives were triggering size 2 storm slabs which were up to 25 cm thick.
On Tuesday, a skier triggered a size 1 wind slab on a northeast aspect at 2000 m which was 20 cm thick. Several natural cornice releases were reported up to size 2.5. One of these triggered a slab on the slope below. At lower elevations, several small loose wet avalanches were reported. A couple small glide slab avalanches were also observed from rock slab features as well as a natural icefall.
On Monday, two large natural cornice falls were observed in the north of the region. They triggered wind slabs on the slope below. A few natural wind slab avalanches were also observed in the north of the region. In the Terrace area, wet loose avalanches up to size 2 were observed on all aspects and elevations except for high north.
Snowpack Summary
The recent storm snow is expected to remain reactive on Thursday. In the north, slabs up to 25 cm have been reported recently. In the south which received less recent snowfall, slabs are mainly a concern in wind loaded terrain features. Below the recent snowfall, a crust can be found on all aspects and elevations except high north terrain. In the north of the region, small surface hoar may be found above this crust. A moist snow surface has been reported below around 1000 m and a crust is expected to form Wednesday overnight with a cooling temperature trend.
A weak layer of surface hoar from mid-March buried 70-120 cm deep can still be found but is considered dormant in the Terrace area. In the far north of the region, it produced large avalanches as recently as Sunday.
Terrain and Travel
- Continue to make conservative terrain choices while the storm snow settles and stabilizes.
- Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Recently formed storm slabs are expected to most reactive in the north of the region which received the most recent snowfall. In the south of the region, the recent snowfall is expected to be reactive primarily in wind loaded terrain features.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Large cornices have become weak with recent mild temperatures and are expected to remain weak on Thursday. Cornice falls have the potential to trigger large avalanches on the slopes below.
Aspects: North, North East, East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 31st, 2022 4:00PM
