Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 15th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
rgoddard,
Avalanche Canada
Moderate southerly winds may have created reactive wind slabs at higher elevations.
Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
No new avalanches were reported in this region on Wednesday.
Snowpack Summary
Southerly winds continue to redistribute the 15 to 25 cm of recent snow. Higher elevation wind slabs may remain reactive.
The new snow is sitting on generally hard surfaces from extensive wind effects or a thin sun crust on steep, sunny slopes.
The middle of the snowpack is generally well-settled and consolidated.
A weak layer of large and fragile facets is found near the base of the snowpack. This layer is of most significant concern in shallow snowpack areas in the north and east of the region.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Cloudy with clearing through the night, trace accumulation, winds southwest 25 to 35 km/h, treeline temperatures -9 °C.
Thursday
Mostly sunny with cloudy periods, no accumulation, winds southwest 40 to 50 km/h, treeline temperatures -5 °C with freezing levels reaching 1200 m.
Friday
A mix of sun and cloud, no accumulation, winds southwest 20 to 30 km/h, freezing levels rising to 1500 m.
Saturday
A mix of sun and cloud, no accumulation, winds southerly 20 to 25 km/h, freezing levels getting up to 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.
- Use extra caution around cornices: they are large, fragile, and can trigger slabs on slopes below.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Moderate southerly winds may have formed wind slabs on lee aspects at higher elevations.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
A weak layer of facets exists near the base of the snowpack. The likelihood of human triggering is low given the layer's depth, but large triggers such as cornice failures or smaller avalanches in motion have the potential to produce very large avalanches with surprisingly wide propagation. Suspect terrain for human triggering includes steep, shallow, and rocky terrain where the snowpack transitions from thin to thick.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 16th, 2023 4:00PM
