Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 26th, 2021 3:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada matt, Avalanche Canada

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Tomorrow's flurries will keep building the snowpack. The bigger story is going to unfold on Sunday. We are expecting a significant storm to blow through the area Sunday afternoon/evening, possibly bringing 20-30cm and strong SW winds. Stay tuned to see what happens!

Summary

Confidence

Moderate -

Weather Forecast

The typical unsettled spring weather pattern will continue for the next few days at least. For tomorrow expect intermittent flurries for most of the day. The new snow won't amount to much when settlement is factored in, a few cm's at most. Ridgeline winds will continue to be from the west at 40km/hr. Unfortunately they will pick up in the evening as the next pulse of snow approaches. Temperatures will be just below zero tomorrow. As a bonus, we may get up to 20cm of snow by Sunday night! Fingers crossed.

Avalanche Summary

Only a few minor loose dry avalanches out of cliff terrain. Up to sz1.

Snowpack Summary

We had a pulse of snow last night that bumped the recent snow amounts to 20cm at treeline. As expected, it was convective in nature, which means amounts will vary from place to place. Its likely the overnight snow settled quickly today given the generally warm temperatures. On that note, we had moist snow up to 2000m today. The two biggest issues with all the recent snow are surface windslabs and the Mar 19 interface. The slabs are on all aspects, but limited to immediate lee areas. 

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the crust.
  • Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Variable winds and warm "sticky" snow have built new slabs on all aspects. Expect to encounter them near exposed ridges.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Mar 27th, 2021 3:00PM

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