Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 9th, 2018 3:48PM

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

mbender, Avalanche Canada

South Coast Inland.

Expect to see the first real warmup of the season with clear skies and rising freezing levels through the weekend into next week. This will initially impact the new snow that fell on Friday, especially on solar aspects.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

SATURDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / light south wind / Alpine temperature -3 / Freezing level 1400m SUNDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light to moderate south wind / Alpine temperature 1 / Freezing level 2000m MONDAY: Mix of sun and cloud / Light south wind / Alpine temperature 5 / Freezing level 2500m

Avalanche Summary

No notable avalanches were reported Thursday or Friday. Numerous loose wet avalanches were observed in steep south-facing terrain on Wednesday and Tuesday. Most were small (size 1), but a few in the Coquihalla reached size 2.

Snowpack Summary

New snow accumulating on Thursday and Friday has been redistributed by southerly winds at upper elevations. The new snow sits on a sun crust on steep south-facing slopes, cold dry snow on polar aspects, and wind affected snow at upper elevations.In northern parts of the region the mid-February weak layer is about 40 cm below the surface and has been reactive in some snowpack tests. The layer is composed of sugary facets, a sun crust on solar aspects, and surface hoar that is present at and below treeline. No recent avalanche activity has been reported on these layers. The snowpack is well settled in southern parts of the region (e.g. Coquihalla and Manning Park).Variable winds in the past month have created cornices on many alpine ridgelines. They will become touchier as they grow in size, as temperatures rise, and as the strong late-winter sun shines down upon them on clear days.

Problems

Wind Slabs

New snow combined with predominantly southerly winds has created wind slabs in the lee of terrain features.

Be cautious as you transition into wind affected terrain.Use ridges or ribs to avoid pockets of wind loaded snow.Extra caution needed around cornices with current conditions.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible - Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

Sun combined with rising freezing levels will weaken the surface snow on slopes exposed to the sun.

Minimize exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes when the solar radiation is strong.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Likely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 10th, 2018 2:00PM