Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 28th, 2023 4:00PM

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

Avalanche Canada rgoddard, Avalanche Canada

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Northeast winds may have created reactive wind slabs in areas where you may not typically see them.

Pay attention as you transition into wind-affected terrain and avoid sunny slopes later in the day.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanche activity was reported since Friday.

Several rider-triggered size 1 wind slab avalanches were reported on lee aspects at upper elevations on Friday.

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

At higher elevations, winds that have switched from the southwest to the northeast may have developed wind slabs on all aspects.

Below the recent snow is a melt-freeze crust, existing on all aspects at treeline and below. The crust extends to mountain tops on sunny aspects. In north-facing high alpine terrain, the surface snow may have remained cold and dry.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of a number of old crusts and facetted snow that continue to be monitored, particularly in shallow snowpack areas.

Weather Summary

Tuesday Night

Clear, no accumulation, winds northeast 35 to 40 km/h, freezing levels coming down to 1000 m.

Wednesday

Sunny with few clouds, no accumulation, winds northeast 30 km/h switching to west 15 km/h, freezing levels up to 2000 m.

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud, potential trace accumulation late in the day, winds west 15 to 20 km/h, freezing levels to 1600 m.

Friday

Cloudy, 5 cm accumulation, winds southwest 25 km/h, freezing levels 1200 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for wind-loaded pockets especially around ridgecrest and in extreme terrain.
  • The more the snow feels like a slurpy, the more likely loose wet avalanches will become.
  • A crust on the surface will help bind the snow together, but may make for tough travel conditions.
  • Avoid exposure to slopes that have cornices overhead.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Winds switching from the southwest to the northeaster may have developed wind slabs in the alpine and even down into the treeline.

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

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Loose Wet

An icon showing Loose Wet

Small wet loose avalanches could occur in the afternoon on solar aspects.

Aspects: South, South West, West.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Unlikely

Expected Size

1 - 1.5

Valid until: Mar 29th, 2023 4:00PM