Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 13th, 2017 3:32PM
The alpine rating is Storm Slabs, Persistent Slabs and Deep Persistent Slabs.
, the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems includeSummary
Confidence
Moderate - Due to the number and quality of field observations
Weather Forecast
TUESDAY: Another storm with 5-15 cm of new snow, strong southwest winds, freezing level dropping with alpine temperatures around -4 C.WENDESDAY: Lingering flurries with 2-5 cm, moderate southwest winds, alpine temperatures around -8 C.THURSDAY: Scattered clouds with isolated flurries, moderate southwest winds, alpine temperatures around -8 C.
Avalanche Summary
Small avalanches have been reported in wind affected terrain the past few days, including a few naturals up to size 2 and a few size 1-1.5 skier-triggered avalanches. A MIN report from Friday describes a size 1 wind slab avalanche at Hudson Bay Mountain (here).The storm snow is expected to form reactive slabs and has the potential to form a persistent slab above the weak February interface.
Snowpack Summary
Another 5-15 cm and strong winds will continue to build storm slabs after Sunday's storm delivered 15-30 cm. Warm temperatures will make touchy slabs at higher elevations and unstable wet snow at lower elevations. A weak interface that was buried in late February may finally have enough snow above it to form a reactive slab. The interface is composed of facets, crusts, and surface hoar and may be 40-80 cm deep. There's uncertainty about the distribution and reactivity of this interface. The mid-pack is well consolidated and sits above weak sugary snow near the ground. The deeper basal weakness remain a concern in thin rocky start zones and shallow snowpack locations.
Problems
Storm Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Deep Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 14th, 2017 2:00PM