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 Cornices.
lbaker,
Avalanche Canada
Hazard will rise to considerable in the alpine during peak daytime heating.
Use caution in wind loaded areas. Keep in mind that human triggering potential persists as natural avalanches taper off.
Summary
Confidence
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday, a widespread natural storm slab avalanche cycle to size 2.5 was observed throughout the region. Many of these avalanches are suspected to have released during the storm on Monday night.
Explosive control produced numerous storm slab avalanches to size 1.5-2.5.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
20-40 cm of dense, wind-affected storm snow in the alpine tapers to a rain crust below 1400 m. This storm snow sits on a sun crust on solar slopes and small surface hoar in sheltered, shaded areas.
The mid-snowpack is generally well-settled. The lower snowpack includes a layer of weak sugary crystals near the ground. These facets are slowly gaining strength and have not produced recent avalanche activity. We continue to track the layer and watch for any signs that it could wake up and produce very large avalanches.
Weather Summary
Wednesday Night
Few clouds clear through the night. Chance of isolated flurries, trace accumulation. Alpine temperatures reach a low of -7 °C. Ridge wind northwest 20 km/h gusting 35 km/h. Freezing levels drop to valley bottom.
Thursday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -3 °C. Ridge wind northwest 15 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1600 meters.
Friday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -2 °C. Ridge wind southwest 15 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 1800 meters.
Saturday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 0 °C. Ridge wind southwest 15 km/h. Freezing levels rise to 2000 meters.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Expect slab conditions to change drastically as you move into wind exposed terrain.
- Use ridges or ribs to avoid areas of wind loaded snow.
- Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
- Avoid sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong, especially if snow is moist or wet
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Strong southwest winds and 20-40 cm of dense storm snow have built wind slabs in alpine and treeline lees. Although natural avalanche activity has tappered off wind slabs remain possible to human trigger.
Be alert when the solar input feels strong. Even brief periods of direct sun could initiate natural avalanche activity.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
The full impact of the march sun is slowly weakening cornices. It is very difficult to predict exactly when a cornice will fail. To manage uncertainty give cornices a wide berth and minimize your exposure time on slopes below them.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 16th, 2023 4:00PM
