Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Mar 22nd, 2019 4:13PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is moderate. Known problems include Persistent Slabs.

jsmith, Avalanche Canada

Northwest Inland.

Human triggering of large persistent slab avalanches remain possible; especially in rocky, alpine terrain with a shallow or highly variable snowpack depth.

Summary

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with isolated flurries; 0-3 mm. / Strong, southeasterly winds / Alpine low -3 C / Freezing level dropping to 1200 m.SATURDAY: Cloudy / Moderate, southwesterly winds / Alpine high -2 C / Freezing level 1200 m.SUNDAY: Sunny / Light, southeasterly winds / Alpine high -1 C / Freezing level 1400 m.MONDAY: Mostly sunny / Light, northeasterly winds / Alpine high -1 C / Freezing level 1500 m.

Avalanche Summary

Natural avalanche activity will taper off with the cloudy skies and cooling temperatures. Concern remains for human triggering persistent slab avalanches on a layer of facets that are down 30-50 cm.

Snowpack Summary

30-50 cm of well settled snow overlies weak facets (sugary snow) that were around March. 10th. which is currently the primary layer of concern for human triggering persistent slab avalanches.Lower down in the snowpack, the base is composed of weak facets. Large avalanches initiating on these facets are most likely in rocky, alpine terrain where there is a shallow or highly variable snowpack depth. They would likely require a large trigger such as a cornice fall, snowmobile, or a group of people standing in the same spot.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Human triggering of large persistent slab avalanches remain possible; especially in rocky, alpine terrain with a shallow or highly variable snowpack depth.

Avoid steep, rocky terrain in the alpine where there is a shallow or highly variable snowpack depthUse extra caution around moraines that tend to have highly variable snowpacks.Avoid re-grouping in rocky areas with a shallow snowpack, remote triggering is still possible.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: All elevations.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1.5 - 3

Valid until: Mar 23rd, 2019 2:00PM