Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 31st, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is low, the treeline rating is low, and the below treeline rating is below threshold. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada shorton, Avalanche Canada

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Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features. Although triggering slabs on deeply buried weak layers is unlikely under the current conditions, we'll be avoiding rocky start zones and thick to thin transitions for the remainder of the season.

Summary

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No significant avalanches have been reported in the past few days. 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

5 to 15 cm of new snow has fallen on wind-pressed surfaces in the alpine and crust on solar aspects around treeline. Soft older snow may be found in shady, wind-sheltered areas. Weaknesses in the mid and lower snowpack are unlikely to produce avalanches under the current conditions. A weak layer of surface hoar/crust/facets buried in early January is now over 1 m deep in most areas, and has not produced avalanche activity for several weeks. The lower snowpack consists of basal facets, particularly in thin snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Friday night

Cloudy, flurries easing with 2 to 4 cm of snow, 20 km/h southeast wind, treeline temperatures cool to -10 °C.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, isolated flurries with trace amounts of snow, 10 km/h south wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.

Sunday

Mix of sun and cloud, no significant precipitation, 15 km/h southwest wind, treeline temperatures around -8 °C.

Monday

Sunny, no precipitation, 20 km/h northwest wind, treeline temperatures around -6 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Small avalanches can have serious consequences in extreme terrain. Carefully evaluate your line for wind slab hazard before you commit to it.
  • Pay attention to isolated alpine features as well as cross-loaded features at treeline.
  • Avoid shallow, rocky areas where the snowpack transitions from thick to thin.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

With only 5 to 15 cm of recent snowfall, if a wind slab problem exists it will be confined to isolated pockets in the alpine.

Aspects: North, North East, East, West, North West.

Elevations: Alpine.

Likelihood

Unlikely - Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Apr 1st, 2023 4:00PM