Avalanche Forecast
Issued: Mar 22nd, 2024 4:00PM
The alpine rating is , the treeline rating is , and the below treeline rating is Known problems include Persistent Slabs.
jsmith,
Avalanche Canada
Cooling temperatures are reducing the likelihood of triggering large persistent slab avalanches.
Avoid steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin-to-thick snowpack.
Summary
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
A skier triggered size 1 persistent slab avalanche was reported on a north aspect at treeline near Nelson on Thursday. It failed on a weak layer of surface hoar down 25 cm.
Snowpack Summary
0 to 5 cm of recent snow overlies predominantly crusty surfaces.
A weak layer of surface hoar is down 30-60 cm in isolated, sheltered areas at treeline.
A widespread crust with sugary facets above is buried 80-180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer. However, when a thick surface crust is present, human triggering this layer is unlikely.
Weather Summary
Friday night
Cloudy. 5 to 10 km/h south ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -3 °C. Freezing level 1400 m.
Saturday
Cloudy with isolated flurries, 0 to 10 cm snow. 5 to 10 km/h east ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
Sunday
Mix of sun and cloud. 10 to 20 km/h northeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -5 °C. Freezing level 1500 m.
Monday
Mix of sun and cloud. 5 to 10 km/h southwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -4 °C. Freezing level 1600 m.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- When a thick, melt-freeze surface crust is present, avalanche activity is unlikely.
- Avoid steep, rocky, and wind effected areas where triggering slabs is more likely.
- Avalanche hazard may have improved, but be mindful that deep instabilities are still present.
- Cornice failure may trigger large avalanches.
Problems
Persistent Slabs
A crust with weak facets above is buried 80 to 180 cm deep. Steep or convex terrain features with a shallow or thin to thick snowpack at treeline and above are the most likely places to trigger this layer.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood
Expected Size
Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2024 4:00PM
