Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 26th, 2023 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Wind Slabs and Loose Wet.
zryan,
Avalanche Canada
Be cautious as you transition into wind-affected terrain, easterly winds may be forming fresh reactive wind slabs.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
Around Mount Cain on Friday, our field team observed small (size 1.5) dry loose avalanches occurring once new snow was exposed to daytime warming and solar input.
On Wednesday, our field team reported several loose wet avalanches on south aspect terrain. Explosive avalanche control utilizing a large explosive on a steep north aspect incised rocky gulley feature produced a large (size 2.5) slab avalanche. This avalanche ran on an old melt freeze crust, was 100 cm deep at the crown and ran to the bottom of the run out.
Backcountry users will likely see evidence of a small wet loose avalanche cycle from recent rain and solar input below treeline.
If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.
Snowpack Summary
In terrain above 1600 m up to 10-30 cm of preserved and wind-affected dry snow is likely to exist. An established melt freeze crust can be found at elevations 1600 m and below. At all elevations the mid and lower snowpack has a number of old melt freeze crusts that are unreactive and overall presents as consolidated, well settled and strong.
Weather Summary
Sunday night
Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -5 °C. Ridge wind 10 to 35 km/h from the south. Freezing level 400 metres.
Monday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 0 °C. Ridge wind southeast 20 km/h gusting to 60 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1300 metres.
Tuesday
Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 3 °C. Ridge wind east 30 km/h gusting to 70 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1600 metres.
Wednesday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 6 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 30 km/h from the northeast. Freezing level rises to 1900 metres.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Look for signs of instability: whumphing, hollow sounds, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches.
- Wind slabs may be poorly bonded to the underlying crust.
- As surface loses cohesion due to melting, loose wet avalanches become common in steeper terrain.
Problems
Wind Slabs
Southeast winds may redistribute 10-30 cm of recent storm snow into fresh, reactive wind slabs in exposed areas.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Loose Wet
The upper snowpack continues to adjust to the recent spring-like weather. Expect during periods of warming and clearing, that solar aspects will begin to produce small wet loose avalanches at all elevations.
Aspects: South East, South, South West, West.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 27th, 2023 4:00PM
