Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 21st, 2022 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Loose Wet, Cornices and Wind Slabs.
TRettie,
Avalanche Canada
Keep an eye on the snow surface. As the freezing level rises and the snow surface becomes moist wet loose avalanches will increase in size and likelihood.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate - Uncertainty is due to how the snowpack will react to the forecast weather.
Weather Forecast
Monday night: Flurries bringing up to 5 cm of new snow with winds becoming strong from the southwest. Freezing levels around 1300 m.
Tuesday: Cloudy in the morning with flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow at higher elevations. A mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Strong southwest winds and freezing levels rising to 2500 m.
Wednesday: Cloudy with around 5 cm of snow expected at higher elevations. Freezing levels around 2200 m. strong southwest winds in the morning trending to light in the evening.
Thursday: A mix of sun and cloud with the possibility of light flurries bringing trace amounts of new snow. Light variable winds and freezing levels around 1800 m.
Avalanche Summary
On Sunday ski cutting in the north of the region produced wind slab avalanches on northerly aspects up to size 1.5. In the south of the region a group of skiers triggered a size 2.5 on a south facing slope at treeline. We suspect this avalanche ran on a crust from mid March.
On Saturday one natural cornice failure was observed in the north of the region. It did not pull a slab on the slope below.Â
Several glide slab avalanches up to size three have been reported over the past few days in the southern part of the region.
Snowpack Summary
Wind slabs can be found on north and east aspects. Moist snow will likely be observed on all aspects at treeline and below. Only high alpine terrain is likely to remain dry. multiple crusts exist on solar aspects.
a melt-freeze crust from mid March exists down 20 to 40 cm on all aspects below 1500 m. In the north of the region, a crust/facet interface from February sits 40 to 80 cm deep and had been most problematic on north to northeast aspects around 1900-2100 m. This layer is currently considered dormant.
Terrain and Travel
- Back off slopes as the surface becomes moist or wet with rising temperatures.
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
- Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Problems
Loose Wet
As freezing levels rise the size and likelihood of wet loose avalanches will increase.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Cornices
Ongoing winds have formed overhanging cornices. The likelihood of natural cornice falls can increase with warming.
Aspects: North, North East, East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Wind Slabs
Wind slabs could still be found in exposed treeline and alpine terrain.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, West, North West.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 22nd, 2022 4:00PM
