Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Northwest Coastal.
Confidence
Good
Weather Forecast
Thursday: Expect few clouds with light westerly winds and alpine temperatures reaching -2.Friday & Saturday: The pattern continues, with mostly sunny skies, light westerly winds and alpine temperatures climbing to -1 in the afternoons.
Avalanche Summary
Natural and rider triggered avalanches up to 2.5 have been reported, likely triggering on the March 9th layer. Loose wet sluffs up to 2.0 have also been reported
Snowpack Summary
Recent new snow is settling with the influence of warm temperatures. Solar aspects now sport a melt freeze crust. Wind slabs may be found at alpine and treeline elevations on many slope aspects due to variable winds. A layer of surface hoar (buried March 9th; now down about 40-60 cm) is slowly becoming less touchy, but professionals are keeping a wary eye on it. In some places this interface is a crust/facet layer. Triggering this layer is becoming a low probability but high consequence problem. Check out the?Forecaster's Blog?for related discussion. A second surface hoar layer, buried on March 18, is also reported to be gaining strength. The mid snowpack is generally well settled and strong. Cornices are large and untrustworthy, especially when the sun is out.
Avalanche Problems
Persistent Slabs
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 7
Wind Slabs
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 4
Loose Wet
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 3