Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 10th, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Persistent Slabs.
TRettie,
Avalanche Canada
Continue to assess the wind effect as you gain elevation. Wind slab could be found in unusual locations due to recent north winds.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to extremely variable snowpack conditions reported through the region.
Weather Forecast
Thursday night: possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light to moderate west northwest winds. Low of -13 in the North of the region and -8 in the south.Â
Friday: cloudy with light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Moderate westerly wind. High of -3 at 1800m.
Saturday: cloudy with light flurries bringing up to 5cm of new snow. Light southwest winds with freezing levels rising to 1800m.
Sunday: cloudy with light precipitation bringing up to 5cm of snow at higher elevations. Freezing level rising to 1700m. Light southwest winds.
Avalanche Summary
On Wednesday one skier triggered size 1 wind slab avalanche was reported. This avalanche was triggered on a south facing slope at treeline.
Human triggered avalanche activity has largely tapered off since Friday when several riders triggered storm slabs and loose dry avalanches in the recent snow, including this remotely triggered size 1.5 near Golden.
Snowpack Summary
Soft wind slabs can be found on southerly aspects in alpine and exposed treeline terrain.
The late February layer is down 20 to 40cm. This layer consists of a crust on solar aspects and all aspects at lower elevations. This layer presents as facets on northerly terrain and surface hoar in sheltered treeline features.
A layer of surface hoar from late January has not produced recent avalanche activity but it can still be identified 40-50 cm deep near Golden.
Terrain and Travel
- Be careful with wind loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and roll-overs.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs can still be found in alpine and exposed treeline terrain. Sensitivity to triggering could be greater where wind slab has formed over a crust.
Aspects: East, South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
The late February crust/facet/surface hoar layer is down 30cm in many parts of the region. It is a developing problem and could become more reactive with warming temperatures.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 11th, 2022 4:00PM
