Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 18th, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
GL,
Avalanche Canada
Tuesday will be much cooler which helps with improving overall stability but another cold front storm is coming. Potentially up to 25cm in the region Wednesday to Thursday may increase the overall hazard depending on how the storm evolves.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
The past three days have had numerous loose wet avalanches on steep sunny aspects plus large slabs running on the Feb Crust with some stepping down to ground. Saturday's explosive control work released a few size two slabs and wet loose avalanches. Relatively less activity was noted in Maligne lake area.
Snowpack Summary
The recent dramatic warming has moistened surface snow to mountain tops on all aspects and elevations except the high north. The moist snow sits on the Feb 3rd crust interface down 35-60cm. Basal depth hoar makes up the bottom third of the snowpack. HS ranges from 80 to 130cm.
Weather Summary
Mountain Weather Forecast is available @ Avalanche Canada https://www.avalanche.ca/weather/forecast
Tuesday will bring flurries, -2 °C, and light winds. Expect flurries on Wednesday and potentially 12cm of snow, light winds, and 2000 metre freezing level. Another 7cm on Thursday, and -16 to -10 °C. Friday could be -18 to -9 °C.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid exposure to overhead avalanche terrain, large avalanches may reach the end of run out zones.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
This problem layer is the crust and facets created by early February's warm spell. It is down 30-90 cm in the snowpack and is a 1-10 cm thick crust or multiple crusts with a layer of weak facets above.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
The base of the snowpack is inherently weak and untrustworthy. Tickling this deep layer would result in a high consequence avalanche. Any avalanche in the upper snowpack has the potential to step down to the base of the snowpack.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 19th, 2024 4:00PM
